Telangana High Court stays local body poll in Mahabubpatnam

The Telangana High Court stayed the panchayat election process in Mahabubpatnam, Mahabubabad district, after villagers challenged the reservation pattern that allotted the Sarpanch post and three ward seats to STs despite the village having only seven ST voters

Hyderabad: Justice T Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court on Thursday stayed the panchayat election process in Mahabubpatnam village of Mahabubabad district, after serious concerns were raised over the reservation pattern notified for Sarpanch and ward posts.

A writ petition via a lunch motion was moved by villagers Mittagudupula Yakub, Kasoju Srikanthachary, Siluveru Lingaiah, Polu Nagaiah, Vijay, Venkatamallu and others, questioning how the authorities could reserve the Sarpanch post and three ward seats for the ST community when the village has only seven ST voters, all belonging to three families.

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During the hearing, Justice Madhavi Devi took exception to the State’s approach. The court asked how four posts could be allotted to the ST category in a village where the ST population is so small. It questioned the State if all ST voters fall in one ward, how will the remaining ward members be elected, and how will the representation of other communities be ensured?

The petitioners pointed out that after the earlier reorganisation by the previous government, Mahabubpatnam Gram Panchayat had 576 voters, comprising 199 SCs, 358 BCs, 13 OCs and 7 STs. Despite this, based on 2011 Census data, the authorities this time allotted the Sarpanch post and three ward positions to the ST category. The villagers told the court that the seven ST voters are from two closely related families, making the reservation pattern impractical and unfair.

Special Government Pleader Rahul Reddy, appearing for the State, maintained that the reservations were made strictly in line with the rotation roster. He argued that reservations are not based on present voter numbers and that the authorities had followed the mandated rotational cycle.

After hearing the submissions, the court observed that the reservation process in this instance required closer scrutiny. Finding a prima facie imbalance in the application of the roster, Justice Madhavi Devi stayed the election process for Mahabubpatnam.