Telangana HC Halts Local Body Polls Over Challenge To 42% Backward Class Reservations

The Telangana High Court on Thursday granted an interim stay on the state government’s notification for conducting local body elections, following petitions challenging the 42% reservation for Backward Classes in local bodies.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin passed the order after hearing extensive arguments from both the petitioners and the state government over 2 days.

Court Gives 4 Weeks To File Counter-Affidavit

The High Court directed the Telangana government to file its counter-affidavit within four weeks, while granting the petitioners two weeks thereafter to submit their responses.

“The counter should be submitted in 15 days for all parties,” said Advocate Govardhan Reddy, speaking to ANI after the hearing.

The stay effectively halts the State Election Commission’s (SEC) notification, issued on September 29, which had scheduled rural local body elections in five phases from October 9 to November 11.

Challenge To 42% BC Reservation

The petitions before the court contest the legality of the government order — GO MS No. 9 — which granted 42% reservation for Backward Classes in local body polls.

The Telangana Assembly, in August 2025, had passed the Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Telangana Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to enable the implementation of the enhanced quota.

However, petitioners argued that the reservation exceeds the ceiling limit set by the Supreme Court and lacks sufficient empirical data to justify the increase.

Protests Erupt After Court Order

Following the High Court’s decision, several members of BC communities and political leaders staged protests outside the court premises, expressing disappointment over the stay.

They alleged that the move could delay the local body elections and impact BC representation in governance.

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