Hyderabad, July 21 (Maxim News): The Central Government has reportedly rejected two key bills sent by the Telangana Government seeking to increase Backward Classes (BC) reservations to 42% in education, employment, and local body elections. The move has sparked political debate as the Congress-led state government’s attempts to justify the increase have been turned down twice, sources reveal.
The Telangana Assembly had passed Bill No. 3 and Bill No. 4 during its sessions in March, based on findings from a household survey and a dedicated BC Commission report. The bills proposed raising the BC quota to 42% in government jobs and education (Bill No. 3) and in local governance bodies (Bill No. 4). They were then sent to the President of India with a request to include them in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution, which would safeguard them from judicial scrutiny.
However, the Centre returned the bills citing the Supreme Court’s 50% reservation cap, as outlined in the landmark verdict related to the “Triple Test” formula required for reservations in local body polls. The bills, returned about 15 days ago, were accompanied by a note questioning the legal and statistical basis of the proposed hike.
In response, the state government provided clarifications referencing Articles 15(4), 15(5), 16(4) of the Constitution and pointed to exceptions granted for EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) reservations, which were not limited by the 50% ceiling. Still, the Centre reportedly rejected the explanations and returned the bills a second time, raising fresh questions about the validity of the data used to justify the increased quota.
Sources in Delhi say the Union Government has also sought further clarity on how the “backwardness” of BCs was assessed, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the Telangana survey findings. In light of this, the state reportedly held a closed-door meeting with key ministers and officials at a private hotel, where they revisited the Justice Sudarshan Reddy Committee report, which had recommended the reservation increase.
The state now plans to send this report to the Centre as part of a renewed attempt to justify its stance. However, the episode has sparked criticism from opposition parties and civil society over the government’s lack of transparency in handling the matter. Political analysts believe the Congress government’s move could become a major talking point in the lead-up to local and parliamentary elections.
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