Telangana HC extends stay on GO 9 granting 42% BC quota in Panchayat polls; final hearing on Jan 29, 2026
The impugned Government Orders were earlier stayed on October 9, when the Bench issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries of Panchayat Raj, General Administration
By Newsmeter Network
Representational Image
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court extended the interim stay on GO Nos 9, 41 and 42. The GOs together provide 42 per cent reservation for Backward Classes in the upcoming Panchayat Raj elections.
The stay will remain in force until January 29, 2026, the date fixed for the final hearing.
The impugned Government Orders were earlier stayed on October 9, when the Bench issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries of Panchayat Raj, General Administration (GAD), BC Welfare, Law and Legislative Departments, as well as the Chief Electoral Officer, Telangana, directing them to file responses within four weeks.
Court observes breach of 50% ceiling
In its October order, the Bench noted that the State had breached the 50 per cent upper ceiling on reservations, as laid down by the Supreme Court in Vikas Kishanrao Gawali, by extending 42 per cent BC quota in local body elections — resulting in a total reservation of 67 per cent.
This exceeded the permissible limit, the court said. Finding prima facie violation, the court stayed GO 9 and related GOs 41 and 42.
Delay in filing counters
On the previous date, the court had directed both the State government and the petitioners in the batch of 10 writ petitions to file counter-affidavits, rejoinders and brief synopses.
However, as the required filings were not submitted on Wednesday, the Bench adjourned the matter to January 29, 2026, while continuing the interim stay.
The batch includes writ petitions filed by Buttemgari Madhav Reddy, a social activist from Medchal–Malkajgiri district, and another writ petition by Goreti Venkatesh from Nalgonda.
A writ petition by S Laxmaiah, General Secretary, Madiwala Machadeva Rajakula Sangham, Dharur (Vikarabad) and C Shanthappa, advocate from Baghlingampally
Six other petitions challenging the validity of GOs 9, 41 and 42
The petitioners requested the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Ghouse Meera Mohiuddin on Wednesday, for the suspension of the GOs, contending that the enhanced reservation violates constitutional mandates.
The matter is now posted to January 29, 2026, for final adjudication, with the stay on enhanced BC reservations in the Panchayat elections continuing until then.
