Telangana Cabinet clears 42% quota for Backward Classes ahead of local body elections

The quota will be implemented through an ordinance.

Telangana government’s 19th Cabinet has decided to implement 42 per cent reservation for Backward Classes in the upcoming local body elections.

This comes nearly four months after the Telangana Assembly passed two key legislations clearing the way for 42 per cent reservation for Backward Classes in government jobs, educational institutions and urban and rural local body polls, according to a report by the Indian Express.

The quota will be implemented through an ordinance. The reservation percentage is based on empirical data from the caste survey conducted by the state government and submitted to the BC commission headed by Busani Venkateshwara Rao.

Based on Supreme Court's verdict permitting sub-classification of groups entitled for reservation, the cabinet had approved amendments to the Panchayat Raj Act, 2018, as precursor to raisin the quota for Backward Classes, according to a report by The Times of India.

Local body elections in Telangana will have to be held within three months, according to the Telangana High Court’s directions on June 25.

In a media briefing after the cabinet meeting, Revenue Minister P Srinivasa Reddy said that the state government is committed to implement the reservation for BCs as promised by the Congress party earlier.

"In order to implement the 42 per cent reservation for Backward Classes in local body elections, an ordinance will be issued to amend an Act passed by the Assembly in 2018," Reddy said, PTI reported.

The minister further said Telangana Advocate General was invited for the cabinet meeting and sought his legal opinion on the issue of ordinance.

Reddy also told the media that the State Assembly had already passed a bill providing 42 per cent reservation to BCs, and it was sent to the Centre for Presidential assent through the Governor. However, the bill did not see the light of day.

The government is committed to the 'BC Declaration' announced by the ruling Congress before the 2023 assembly polls which promised to increase BC quota to 42 per cent from 23 per cent in local bodies, besides giving 42 per cent reservation in government civil construction and maintenance contracts, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had earlier said.

(With inputs from PTI)