Telangana Rural Local Body Elections Cancelled After HC Stay on BC Quota GO
The TSEC has clarified that a fresh schedule will be announced only after judicial clarity or modification of the reservation structure by the state government.
State Election Commission issues gazette notification withdrawing poll schedule
Hyderabad, October 9: In a swift response to the Telangana High Court’s interim stay on the state government’s order enhancing Backward Class (BC) reservations to 42 percent, the Telangana State Election Commission (TSEC) on Thursday evening cancelled the rural local body elections. The decision was formalised through an extraordinary gazette notification released by the Commission.
The notification states that in view of the High Court’s directions, the previously announced election schedule for Zilla Praja Parishads, Mandal Praja Parishads, and Gram Panchayats stands withdrawn with immediate effect. All related activities—including nomination filings and enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct—are deemed null and void until further orders.
“Consequent to the stay order of the Hon’ble High Court of Telangana on the Government Order relating to BC reservations, the Commission hereby cancels the schedule issued for the conduct of elections to rural local bodies,” the gazette reads.
Legal Background
The state government’s GO Ms. No. 9 sought to raise the BC reservation quota in local bodies from 34 to 42 percent, citing findings of the BC Commission. However, multiple petitions challenged the move as violative of the Supreme Court’s ‘triple-test’ framework and the 50 percent ceiling on reservations.
The High Court, admitting these petitions, stayed the operation of the GO and directed the government to submit its counter within four weeks.
What Happens Next
The TSEC has clarified that a fresh schedule will be announced only after judicial clarity or modification of the reservation structure by the state government. Until then, all electoral preparations remain suspended.
This marks the first major interruption in local-body elections under the new government, underscoring the constitutional and procedural sensitivity surrounding reservation policy in Telangana’s grassroots governance system.
