Supreme Court to Examine Telangana's Move to Increase Local Body OBC Quota to 42 Percent
The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition challenging the Telangana government's order to enhance the Backward Class (OBC) quota in municipalities and panchayats to 42%. This increase brings the aggregate reservation in local bodies to 67%, exceeding the 50% ceiling established by the Supreme Court in the 1992 Mandal Commission case. The petitioner argues that this violates judicial precedents. Similar legal challenges are pending against reservation hikes in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The Telangana government justifies the move by stating that OBCs are grossly underrepresented despite forming over half the population, while the bill awaits formal assent.
Key Points
- The Telangana government increased the OBC quota in local bodies from 14% to 42% via a September 26 order.
- The total reservation (SC 15%, ST 10%, OBC 42%) now stands at 67%, breaching the 50% legal limit.
- The 50% ceiling rule was established by a nine-judge Bench in the landmark Indra Sawhney (Mandal Commission) case of 1992.
- The petition highlights that the Telangana Backward Classes Bill, 2025, has not yet received assent from the Governor or President.
Exam Facts
- Mandal Commission case judgment year: 1992.
- Proposed total reservation in Telangana local bodies: 67%.
- Constitutional Provision: Article 15 and 16 (Reservation), and Part IX/IXA (Local Bodies).
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