The Telangana High Court has mandated the state government to provide a clear timeline by August 27 for completing a survey aimed at formulating recommendations on reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) and other categories in local body elections. The directive was issued during a hearing involving multiple petitions that advocate for category-specific reservations in elections, including those for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.
Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J Sreenivas emphasized the need for a dedicated commission to conduct this “contemporaneous empirical survey,” following guidelines previously established by the Supreme Court. This survey is intended to gather data on various BC categories before determining appropriate reservation levels.
The controversy stems from challenges raised by petitioners against the powers of the BC Finance Corporation to collect empirical data. The petitioners argue that such tasks should be performed by a dedicated commission, not a corporation. In response, the Telangana government in 2021 designated the existing BC Commission as this “Dedicated Commission” and empowered it to carry out the survey.
The urgency of the petitions is linked to the scheduling of local body elections, with petitioners arguing that elections should only be called after the completion of the survey. The High Court’s order was issued in response to a petition led by BRS leader Sravan Dasoju, who also called for a reevaluation of the ‘Politically Backward Class of Citizens’ in light of a Supreme Court judgment.
Also Read
As the legal proceedings continue, the next hearing is scheduled for August 27, coinciding with the deadline for the state government to report its progress on the survey.
