Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get early assent of the President to a Bill passed by the Telangana legislature in April last year, which provided for reservations to SCs, STs, BCs and minorities in excess of 50%, the cap fixed by the Constitution.
At an hour-long meeting with Mr. Modi, the Chief Minister, who had left for New Delhi on Friday, brought to the notice of the former that the Governor had reserved the Bill for President’s assent as the matter was pending with the Home Ministry ever since it was passed by the legislature.
Mr. Rao highlighted that the Supreme Court had not barred exceeding reservations beyond 50% if States made out a case showing compelling circumstances. Tamil Nadu had provided 69% reservation in this background.
In the case of Telangana, he said, the proposed quota in the Bill was fixed beyond 50% because the backward communities alone constituted over 50% of the total population. Then, there were STs, whose population went up from 7.11% in combined AP to 9.08% in separate Telangana. The population of Muslims also increased from 9.56% to 12.68%. The State Commission for BCs hiked the reservation for Muslims in BC-E group from 4% to 12%.
Mr. Rao also requested Mr. Modi to instruct the Home Ministry to amend the Presidential Order adjusting new zones, multi-zones and State cadre posts of government employment in the context of Telangana under Section 371 D of the Constitution. The government created them, following reorganisation of districts.
He highlighted that except for fixation of the strength of judges in the ratio of 60:40 between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, there was no progress in the bifurcation of the High Court.
He sought a grant of ₹20,000 crore from the Centre for completion of the Kaleswaram irrigation project, being implemented at a cost of ₹80,000 crore.
Unreasonable condition
The Defence Ministry had imposed an unreasonable condition of payment of ₹31.20 crore every year by the State government to the cantonment board for transfer of Bison Polo ground/Gymkhana ground for construction of new Secretariat, widening of highways at Bolarum and Medchal and alternative to Gough Road.
The non-release of fourth instalment of special assistance grant for development of backward areas although the utilisation certificates were submitted by the State government and slow pace of railway projects in the State were other issues flagged by Mr. Rao.