Telangana High Court refuses to stay panchayat elections

The Telangana High Court on Friday refused to stay the State’s panchayat elections, rejecting petitions filed by BC organisations challenging G.O.Ms. 46 on reservations. The Court directed the government to file a counter on sub-category reservations within six weeks.

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Friday refused to issue stay orders over the conduct of panchayat elections in the State.

Challenging the State government’s GOMs 46, which provides reservations to BCs, SCs and STs within the 50 percent ceiling, a few BC organisations, including Madiwala Machadeva Rajakula Sangham and Telangana Pradesh Gangaputra Sangham filed separate petitions in the court appealing that the elections should be kept on hold.

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Hearing the petitions, the High Court Bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin refused to issue stay orders at this stage stating that the election notification was already issued. The Bench also informed the petitioners that court cannot interfere after the election notification has been issued, according to reports.

The Court also asked the petitioners whether they were seeking the cancellation of elections as the sub-categories reservations were not declared by the government.

However, the Court has directed the State government to file a counter on the sub category reservations within six weeks. The next hearing has been scheduled after eight weeks, reports said.