The Supreme Court on Monday refused to admit a writ petition challenging the Telangana government’s order granting 42% reservation to Backward Classes in rural local bodies.
A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta dismissed the petition filed by Vanga Gopal Reddy, noting that the issue is already pending before the Telangana High Court.
Bench Declines To Intervene
During the hearing, the bench questioned the petitioner on why he approached the apex court under Article 32 of the Constitution when the matter was still being heard in the High Court.
When the petitioner argued that the High Court had not granted a stay on the government order, the bench observed that he could not approach the Supreme Court merely because the High Court had declined to stay the order.
Senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Siddharth Dave, and A.D.N. Rao, appearing for the state government, informed the court that two similar petitions on the same issue were already pending before the Telangana High Court.
Telangana Leaders Welcome Court’s Decision
Following the Supreme Court’s order, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who was present in court along with ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Vakiti Srihari, welcomed the ruling.
Speaking to the media outside the court, Vikramarka said, “The state government is committed to providing 42 per cent reservation to BCs in education, employment, and local bodies. We stand by it and we will fight for it.”
He emphasized that the government would implement the BC quota in the upcoming local body elections, for which the State Election Commission recently announced the schedule. The elections are to be conducted in five phases during October and November this year.
Government Defends Its Decision
Before the hearing, the Deputy Chief Minister and ministers held consultations with senior lawyers Abhishek Manu Singhvi—who also represents Telangana in the Rajya Sabha—and Siddharth Dave, along with government counsel Shravan Kumar and Congress BC Cell Chairman Anil Jaihind.
The state leaders informed the lawyers that the government had strictly adhered to Supreme Court guidelines while issuing the Government Order on 42% BC reservations.
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