Court asks Telangana to file counter on panchayats reserved for Backward Classes

Petitioners’ counsel B Rachna Reddy told the court that there was 34 pc reservation to BCs as per the Panchayat Raj Act.

HYDERABAD: The High Court on Wednesday directed the Telangana government to file a detailed counter affidavit on petitions filed to challenge the GOs issued reserving only 3,440 panchayats for backward classes (BCs) in panchayat polls though 4,335 panchayats were to be reserved as per Act.

Justice M S Ramachandra Rao passed this order on petitions filed separately by Panchayat Raj Chamber president C Satyanarayana Reddy and Telangana Inti Party president C Sudhakar seeking directions to the state government to redo the reservation for gram panchayats constitutionally prior to finalising the reservation for issuance of election notification.

Petitioners’ counsel B Rachna Reddy told the court that there was 34 pc reservation to BCs as per the Panchayat Raj Act. Accordingly, 4,335 panchayats have to be reserved for BCs out of 12,751 panchayats in the state. But the government has allocated only 27 pc reservation to BCs apart from making a reservation to SCs and STs. The decision of the government would cause severe damage to the BCs, she pointed out and urged the court to intervene by granting a stay on the impugned GOs. The judge directed the government to file a counter affidavit and adjourned the case by four weeks.

Another petition was filed in the court challenging the inaction of the state government in not providing reservation to BCs for A, B, C and D categories in panchayat elections. Petitioner Asaiah, general secretary of MBC Association, challenged Section 9(4) of Telangana Panchayat Raj Act for not providing category-wise reservation. Failure to extend category-wise reservation to BCs was against the Constitution, he argued.

HC dismisses bail plea of Purushotham Reddy

The High Court on Wednesday dismissed the bail petition filed by suspended HMDA director (planning) Katta Purushotham Reddy in another case registered against him by the police. Reddy is facing charges in the disproportionate assets case. Justice B Siva Sankara Rao dismissed the petition seeking that he be enlarged on bail. On June 7 this year, police registered a case against Reddy for giving permission to a builder to construct a building on the land which was marked for a road in the master plan. 

Former assistant govt pleader moves HC for revised pay

The Hyderabad High Court has recently admitted a petition filed by an advocate P Ashok Kumar, who worked as Telangana assistant government pleader (AGP) from July 2014 to March 2018, seeking revision of his pay from the date of appointment on a par with the advocate-general and additional advocate-general. Justice AV Sesha Sai, issued notice to the state principal secretary to law for filing a counter affidavit to the petition by Ashok Kumar who urged the court to issue directions to the government for revision of his pay.

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