Telangana High Court Halts Local Body Polls Over 42% BC Quota

The Telangana High Court has put a temporary stay on the state government’s order providing 42 percent reservation for Backward Classes in the upcoming local body elections. Following the court’s direction, the State Election Commission (SEC) has decided to halt the local body election process and has officially released a gazette notification to that effect.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin heard the petitions challenging the government’s decision. The High Court has ordered the Telangana government to file its counter affidavit within four weeks and has given the petitioners another two weeks to respond. Until then, the enhanced quota and the election notification will remain suspended.

With this order, the local body election process in Telangana has come to a standstill. The SEC clarified that it is implementing the High Court’s directions and, as a result, the election code of conduct has also been lifted across the state.

The Revanth Reddy government had recently issued Government Order (GO) No. 9, increasing the BC reservation to 42 percent and accordingly announced the local body election schedule. However, after petitions were filed challenging the validity of the GO, the High Court intervened, effectively pausing the elections until further notice.