Hyderabad High Court on Thursday gave direction to serve notices on Telangana Government over providing A,B,C,D and E category-wise reservations for Backward Classes in Panchayat Raj bodies.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice J. Uma Devi passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by a voluntary organisation Most Backward Classes Sangham. The bench directed the Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Panchayat Raj Department and the State Election Commission to file counter affidavits within two weeks.
Sangham general secretary P. Ashaiah challenged section 9 (4) of PR Act stating though it had provided reservations to BCs, the points of category-wise reservations were not specifically mentioned. Hence, the section should be amended, he contended.
The petitioner said in the backdrop of the government’s preparations to hold elections to Gram Panchayats, the category-wise reservations for BCs has become a crucial point. Without finalising the matter, the government cannot request the State Election Commission to begin the process.
If the category-wise reservations are not followed, only a handful of dominating communities among the BCs would benefit. This would also result in persons belonging to the Most Backward Classes not getting an opportunity in the local governance, he stated.