Telangana CM holds meeting on BC reservation case in HC

Hyderabad, Oct 7 (PTI) Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday held a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and other cabinet colleagues, besides other ruling Congress leaders to discuss the petitions against Backward Classes reservation in local bodies, coming up in the High Court on October 8.

The meeting focused on the arguments the government would present in support of the reservation, official sources said.

State Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, AICC incharge of party affairs in Telangana Meenakshi Natarajan attended the meeting.

The Telangana High Court on September 27 posted the hearing on October 8 over petitions challenging the state government's order providing 42 per cent reservation to Backward Classes in local bodies.

The petitioners prayed for setting aside the Government Order (GO) issued on September 26, providing a 42 per cent quota to BCs.

The petitioners contended that provision of 42 per cent reservation in the ensuing Local Body elections would exceed the cap of 50 per cent reservation, which is illegal and contrary to the law laid down by the Supreme Court in the past.

The High Court had earlier directed the state government and the State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct elections to the Gram Panchayats by September 30.

Fulfilling an election promise, the Congress government in Telangana had last month issued an order to provide 42 per cent reservation to Backward Classes in local bodies. PTI SJR SJR ROH