Legal uncertainty looms over BC reservations in Telangana after Maharashtra HC verdict

With Telangana gearing up for local body elections, the government's decision to raise BC reservations to 42 percent has triggered concerns among aspirants. A recent Maharashtra High Court ruling against exceeding the 50 percent reservation cap has cast a shadow over the legality of Telangana’s move.

Adilabad: Decks have been cleared for conducting the much-awaited polls to local bodies with the State election commission announcing the schedule of the elections and the government issuing an order enhancing quota of reservations to 42 percent for Backward Communities. Aspirants have begun making all-out efforts to woo electors and create an impact in the elections.

But developments in implementation of reservations to BCs in elections to local bodies unfolding in the neighbouring state of Maharashtra have become a cause for concern for the aspirants. For instance, Maharashtra’s High Court halted the implementation of the reservations citing the cap on reservations which should not exceed 50 percent.

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The Maharashtra High Court had cancelled the poll results and directed the government to re-conduct the elections by limiting the reservations to below 50 percent, shocking the candidates who won in the elections. The court questioned the government’s process and pulled up protesters for demanding the quota. Currently, the matter is scheduled for hearing on October 8.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Etala Rajender had advised the aspirants to be cautious about the quota of the reservations to OBCs. He is reported to have asked the candidates not to waste money by throwing parties to attract electors. He recalled that candidates suffered huge financial losses when Maharashtra HC stalled the outcome of elections.

Rajender told the aspirants to consider what would happen if a court quashed the government order with regard to the enhancement of the reservations for BCs. He alleged that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was trying to mislead the public by staging a political drama around the reservation issue.