Urban local bodies: Panel on OBCs submits report to UP CM Yogi Adityanath

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh State Local Bodies Dedicated Backward Classes Commission - the panel set up last year to carry out empirical study on the backwardness of the OBCs within the urban local bodies (ULB) - submitted its report to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday, ahead of the stipulated deadline of March 31. The CM has called a meeting of the cabinet on Friday to approve the report.
Constituted on December 28, the five-member panel was asked by the state government to fulfil the mandate laid down under the triple-test formula and compile the report by March 31. Gearing up for the urban local body elections, the urban development department on December 5 last year had earmarked 27% reservation for OBC mayors and chairpersons. However, the Allahabad high court on December 27 ordered that the elections be held without reserving seats for the OBC candidates.
Following this, the state government moved the Supreme Court against the high court order, which was stayed on January 4. The UP government had told the apex court that it would get the elections conducted after the commission carries out an empirical inquiry to study the nature and effects of backwardness across the urban local bodies in the state and on the basis of the commission's report the reservation of the seats would be announced.
The commission collected the facts and figures from the 75 districts and summoned the data on the OBC population within the localities from the local administration. "We will be able to comment only when the report is tabled before us. The recommendations and findings of the commission will be taken into account and the quota will be finalised only after studying the commission's report," said a senior officer from the urban development department.