The Supreme Court has upheld the Andhra Pradesh High Court's decision to strike down 34 percent reservations for Backward Classes in local body elections. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu stated that the Andhra Pradesh High Court passed a reasonable order.
The high court on October 1 had struck down two government orders, observing that the quota was against Supreme Court guidelines that total reservation should not exceed 50 percent, as reported by The Times of India.
The high court had directed the state government and the State Election Commission to begin the election process within six weeks. This ruling impacts the timeline and process for conducting local body elections.
On August 18, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had announced the 34 percent quota for backward classes in local body polls. He stated that this decision was part of the coalition government's political principle and NDA's promise.
Naidu had also said, "We promised to give reservations to backward classes in nominated posts during the polls and we have lived up to it." However, The Times of India reported that the high court subsequently struck down these reservations.
This ruling is significant for readers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as it directly impacts the reservation policy in local body elections and could influence future political decisions regarding quotas in the region.
