Context:
The Telangana government has approached the Supreme Court challenging the State High Court’s interim order that stayed its decision to raise Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation in seats for municipalities and panchayats to 42%.
Key Highlights / Details:
- HC Stay & Govt’s Argument: The High Court had stayed the Government Orders (GOs) increasing OBC quota beyond the 50% ceiling. Telangana contended before the Supreme Court that the stay was erroneous, as there is no constitutional embargo on reservation exceeding 50% for local bodies.
- ‘Will of the People’: The government claimed the enhancement was based on people’s will and local representation needs, especially among the backward communities.
- Elections Context: Local body elections are scheduled for October 23 and 27, and the state sought urgent relief to allow the enhanced quota during these elections.
- Legislative Backing: The Telangana Backward Classes in Seats in Rural and Urban Local Bodies Bill, 2025, passed unanimously by both Houses, raised the quota from 33% to 42% for OBCs.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Supreme Court’s 1992 Indra Sawhney v. Union of India case capped reservations at 50%.
- 73rd and 74th Amendments empower states to provide reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs in local bodies.
- Telangana has argued that local body quotas fall outside the 50% ceiling principle applicable to public employment and education.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Debate on Reservation Ceiling: Whether the 50% ceiling is absolute or flexible depending on empirical data and socio-political context.
- Federalism and Local Governance: The case underscores the autonomy of states to design local representation frameworks under the 73rd/74th Amendments.
- Judicial Oversight: Highlights the evolving judicial interpretation of affirmative action and social justice policies.