SC dismisses plea against 42 per cent BC reservation in Telangana local body polls

The Supreme Court dismissed a plea challenging Telangana’s 42% reservation for Backward Classes in local body elections, directing the petitioner to approach the High Court. The case is set for hearing on October 8, which will decide the quota’s fate.

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the writ petition challenging the Telangana government’s decision to allocate 42 per cent reservation to Backward Classes (BCs) in the upcoming local body elections, granting the petitioner liberty to approach the High Court for relief.

A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta observed that the petitioner could not directly invoke Article 32 of the Constitution when two similar writ petitions on the same issue were already pending before the Telangana High Court.

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When the petitioner’s counsel argued that the Supreme Court had earlier entertained similar pleas, Justice Vikram Nath pointedly remarked, “In similar circumstances, we have also dismissed.”

The bench asked why the petitioners had not pursued their case before the High Court, to which counsel responded that the matter was listed on October 8 but no interim stay had been granted. Rejecting the plea for a stay, the Supreme Court made it clear that the High Court was the proper forum to adjudicate the matter.

With this dismissal, the Telangana High Court’s hearing on October 8 will now be crucial in determining the fate of the enhanced BC quota in local body elections.