Ahead of civic polls, Telangana cabinet clears 42% quota

HYDERABAD: A cabinet meeting of the A Revanth Reddy-led Congress govt in Telangana approved Thursday a proposal to grant 42% reservation to Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies - just in time for panchayat elections within three months, as mandated by a June 25 high court directive. The quota will be implemented through an ordinance.

The reservation percentage is based on empirical data from the caste survey conducted by the state govt and submitted to the BC Commission headed by Busani Venkateshwara Rao. Based on Supreme Court's verdict permitting sub-classification of groups entitled to reservation, the cabinet had approved amendments to the Panchayat Raj Act, 2018, as precursor to raising the quota for Backwards Classes.

With governor Jishnu Dev Varma proroguing the assembly and legislative council sessions on Thursday, the state govt now has the constitutional window to issue the relevant ordinance.

The cabinet made the decision after consulting legal experts and the advocate general, who was present at the meeting, sources said. Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy & BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar said an ordinance was key to avoid delays & legal complications.

"Per Rahul Gandhi's promise, Congress conducted a caste survey after coming to power. Two bills providing 42% reservation for BCs in education, employment, and local bodies were passed in the assembly and sent to the governor. But the Centre has been raising queries, stalling constitutional amendments needed for quota implementation. This ordinance reflects our firm commitment to BC political upliftment," Srinivas Reddy said.

Ponnam said panchayat elections would be held by Sept 30, the deadline set by HC. "We stand by our BC declaration made in Kamareddy. We urge all parties to support this reservation for the smooth conduct of panchayat elections," he said.

On concerns over SC's 50% cap on total reservations, Ponnam argued that it had already been breached through the Centre's EWS quota, while Tamil Nadu currently has over 60% reservation. He said BCs constitute 56% of Telangana's population, which justifies 42% reservation for them.