Telangana to Issue Ordinance for 42% BC Quota in Local Bodies

Hyderabad, July 10 – The Telangana Cabinet, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, has decided to issue an ordinance to increase the reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies to 42%. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting held on Thursday.

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, while addressing the media, stated that the ordinance will amend the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018, to implement the increased reservation for BCs in upcoming local body elections. This move fulfills a major promise made by the Congress party during the 2023 Assembly elections.

Earlier, the BRS government had reduced the BC quota from 34% to 23% under the same Act. Currently, total reservations for SCs, STs, and BCs are limited to 50% as per Supreme Court guidelines. In March, the Assembly passed Bills to increase BC reservation to 42% in education, employment, and local bodies, based on the caste census, and sent them to the Centre for approval.

The Minister revealed that the Centre has delayed giving its assent. So, the state Cabinet called the Advocate General to Thursday’s meeting and, after legal consultation, decided to move ahead with the 42% BC quota through an ordinance for local body elections.

The Telangana High Court had recently instructed the state to complete local body elections within three months, and finalize reservations by end of July. Following this, the Cabinet agreed to proceed based on empirical data from the caste census and the recommendations of the BC Commission.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved the establishment of two private universities in the state – Amity University and Saint Mary Rehabilitation University.