High Court Stays Excess Reservations In TS Panchayat Polls

Hyderabad: In a major setback to the Telangana government, a two-judge bench of the Hyderabad High Court stayed the G.O which provided reservations exceeding 50 per cent to SC,ST and BCs in Panchayat Raj elections. The bench, which comprised Chief Justice T.B.N. Radhakrishnan and Justice Ramesh Ranganathan, on Monday put a cap of 50 per cent on the total reservation according to G.o.Rt No.396 dated 21.06 2018.

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In response to a writ petition filed by V Swapna Reddy, sarpanch of Posanipet in Sanga Reddy district, the High Court sought the government's reply on the decision last week. On Monday, the bench passed an order to stay the government's decision on the reservations, which was against the law laid down by the Supreme Court in Krishna Moorthy case.

The bench is bound by that order, which means the State cannot proceed with by-elections on a earmarked percentage above the permitted 50 per cent, Chief Justice T.B.N Radhakrishna pointed out. However, the order is not applicable for STs in schedule areas, he suggested.