Telangana High Court refuses to suspend Panchayat elections
BC leaders expressed anger that the state government has reduced reservation for BCs from 42 percent to 22 percent via GO 46.
Hyderabad: Telangana High Court has refused to stay the upcoming gram panchayat election process. The plea which challenged GO 46, was filed by representatives of the BC community groups, on Thursday.
They demanded the government unconditionally withdraw GO 46 and move forward to implement 42 percent reservations. BC leaders expressed anger that the state government has reduced reservation for BCs from 42 percent to 22 percent via GO 46.
What was the petitioners arguments?
The petitioners’ counsel argued that reservations should be given to the most backward classes and asked the court to direct the state to provide quotas based on A,B,C,D categories within the BC community.
On hearing the petitioners argument, the court said that it could not impose a stay at this stage and that the election process is already underway. The court also asked the petitioners why the GO was not challenged before the notification for the election was issued.
The court has directed the state government to file a counter and next hearing will be held in eight weeks.
BC leaders have called for peaceful protests, road blockades on November 29 to escalate pressure on the state government to implement 42 percent BC quota in local body elections.