Telangana: Noisy scenes witnessed at BC Commission’s public hearing in Karimnagar

To collect opinions from various BC communities on the Government’s decision to provide reservations to the community people in local body polls, BC commission conducted a public hearing in Karimnagar collectorate auditorium

Karimnagar: The public hearing conducted by Telangana Commission for Backward Classes witnessed noisy scenes as the representatives of various BC communities raised objections for giving more time to BRS MLAs.

To collect opinions from various BC communities on the Government’s decision to provide reservations to the community people in local body polls, BC commission conducted a public hearing in Karimnagar collectorate auditorium here on Friday.

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Besides other organizations, BRS also submitted a representation. MLAs Padi Koushik Reddy and Dr K Sanjay Kumar along with Karimnagar Mayor Y Sunil Rao gave their representations to the commissioner extending party’s support to the state government’s decision to provide 42 percent reservation to BCs in local body elections. While Koushik Reddy was speaking, representatives of various BC communities and associations raised objections for giving much time to BRS leaders.

The commission, which gave less time to them, was allowing the BRS legislators to deliver lengthy speeches, they said and questioned the discrimination being shown to them by the commission. The issue calmed down with the interference of the Chairman G Niranjan.

Earlier, placing the BRS party’s opinion before the commission, Koushik Reddy questioned the sanctity of the commission in the wake of the recent High Court’s directions to the state government for the constitution of a dedicated commission.

“Where was the need to get opinion from the public when the court has already instructed the government for a dedicated commission? What would be the fate of the commission if anybody approached the court in the future?” He questioned and said problems could arise in the future.

Referring to Bihar and Maharashtra caste census issues, the MLA informed that local courts rejected the reports by terming them due to procedural lapses. The government must consider the Supreme Court’s judgments delivered in different cases in the years 2010, 2021, 2022, he advised.

Arguing that the commission’s report might not stand the judicial scrutiny, the legislator opined that it could end up in court cases. According to the Constitution, the percentage of reservations should not have crossed 50. How could the government provide 42 percent reservation to BCs? He questioned and wanted the government to reveal its stand on the issue.

In order to get political benefit in the local body elections, the state government came up with a proposal to provide 42 percent reservation to BCs. However, the government was not sincere on the issue and moreover, the government was conspiring to get the issue stalled in the courts. Instead of politicizing it, the government should implement reservations in education and employment also, he said.

Reacting on MLA’s comments, Commission Chairman Niranjan made it clear that the commission was not a political body and moreover, they have no relation with any political party. Commenting on the court’s judgment, he said that there was no clarity on the court’s directions.

The Commission has not received the court judgment copy. They were continuing the public hearing only after discussing with the Advocate General and taking opinion from the legal experts. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was also there in a meeting held with AG and other advocates.

Stating that the commission would not work against the directions and advice of the court, he made it clear that the commission has a right to study the socio-economic condition of the BC communities. Korutla MLA Sanjay Kumar expressed his displeasure for not beng allowed to explain the problems of BCs in his constituency to the commission