A.P. High Court sets aside 34% BC quota in local body polls, says it exceeds 50% overall ceiling
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has struck down government orders providing 34% reservation for Backward Classes in local body elections, citing that it exceeds the 50% total reservation ceiling. The court has directed the state to revisit the reservation policy based on empirical data and proceed with holding timely elections.
Why it matters
This ruling impacts the legal framework for local governance and social justice quotas in Andhra Pradesh, necessitating a revision of state election procedures.
A Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court led by Chief Justice Lisa Gill and comprising Justice Challa Gunaranjan on Thursday set aside G.O. Nos. 105 and 1065 through which the government provided 34% reservation to the Backward Classes (BCs) in Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) and 33.33% quota in the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), saying that they exceeded the 50% threshold laid down by the Supreme Court.
While striking down the impugned G.O.s, the court gave liberty to the government to revisit the issue and determine the percentage of reservation for BCs keeping in view the apex court judgment in Janhit Abhiyan Vs. Union of India after completing the exercise of data collection in compliance with the judgment in Vikas Kishanrao Gawali Vs. State of Maharashtra.
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