Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Andhra Pradesh Challenges High Court Ruling on BC Quota
Andhra Pradesh wants to reserve seats for Backward Classes in local elections.
Its orders set a 34% quota in rural areas and a 33.33% quota in urban areas.
The High Court cancelled those orders, saying the total reservations went beyond a 50% limit.
It also questioned whether the state had enough of the right kind of evidence.
The government says it used a commission’s recommendations and survey information.
Critics say the evidence and the commission report have not been made sufficiently clear.
The state is asking the Supreme Court to review the decision.
Reports disagree about whether the petition has already been filed or is still being prepared.
The government says it wants a quick decision and wants election notifications held until then.
The High Court directed officials to start the election process within six weeks.
Andhra Pradesh is challenging the High Court decision that struck down local-election reservation orders for Backward Classes, including a 34% rural quota and 33.33% urban quota.
The High Court said combined reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and BCs exceeded the 50% ceiling and questioned whether the state’s evidence met legal requirements.
The government says the quota reflects Andhra Pradesh’s circumstances and relies on a commission’s recommendations and survey data; critics question the evidence and the commission report’s publication.
Reports differ on the petition’s filing status: some say it was filed on Saturday, while others describe it as planned for Saturday or Monday.
The government says it will seek an expedited Supreme Court hearing and a pause in election notifications; the High Court directed officials to begin the election process within six weeks.
- Who
- The Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, is challenging the High Court ruling.
- What
- The state is seeking Supreme Court intervention over orders providing BC reservations in local-body elections.
- When
- The High Court ruling was issued on October 1; reports differ on whether the Supreme Court petition was filed Saturday or was planned for Saturday or Monday.
- Where
- Andhra Pradesh; the challenge is before the Supreme Court of India.
- Why
- The government says the quota reflects local circumstances and its commitment to BC representation; the High Court found the combined reservation exceeded the 50% ceiling and questioned the supporting evidence.
Andhra Pradesh Government
High Court and Critics
Whether the quota can be upheld
Andhra Pradesh Government
The state argues that the 34% quota reflects Andhra Pradesh’s circumstances and says legal precedents allow arrangements to account for local conditions.
High Court and Critics
The High Court struck down the orders because combined reservations exceeded the 50% ceiling; critics say the orders lack a sustainable legal basis.
Evidence for the quota
Andhra Pradesh Government
The government says it relied on commission recommendations and survey data.
High Court and Critics
The High Court questioned whether the material met legal requirements, and critics questioned the commission report’s public availability and the data behind the quota.
Election timing
Andhra Pradesh Government
The government says it will seek a quick Supreme Court decision and wants election notifications delayed until the case is decided.
High Court and Critics
The High Court directed the state and State Election Commission to begin the election process within six weeks.
- Rural quota
- Government Order 105 provided 34% BC reservation in rural local bodies.
- Urban quota
- Government Order 1065 provided 33.33% BC reservation in urban local bodies.
- High Court ruling
- The court struck down the orders, finding combined SC, ST and BC reservations exceeded the 50% ceiling.
- Evidence at issue
- The High Court questioned whether the Unified Family Survey and other material met requirements for determining BC political reservations.
- State’s stated basis
- The government says it relied on commission recommendations and survey data, and that the quota reflects Andhra Pradesh’s circumstances.
- Petition status
- Reports conflict: some say the petition was filed Saturday, while others say it was planned for Saturday or Monday.
- Election timetable
- The High Court directed the state and State Election Commission to initiate the local-body election process within six weeks.
- Government’s request
- The government says it will seek an expedited Supreme Court hearing and ask that election notifications be held until the case is decided.
Sources
Local Body Polls: Govt to wait till SC verdict on BC quota
AP takes BC quota battle to SC
AP govt to move Supreme Court over High Court verdict on BC reservation
AP to move SC against HC verdict on 34% BC quota
AP govt to file petition kn Supreme Court tomorrow on BC reservations in local bodies