Telangana HC Issues An Interim Stay On The Notification Process For Local Body Polls

The Revanth Reddy-led Telangana government has been dealt a significant political and administrative setback after the High Court issued an interim stay on the notification process for the local body polls. The stay directly challenges GO No. 9, which increased Backward Classes (BC) reservation to a contentious 42%, a key election promise of the Congress party. The State Election Commission (SEC), which had already notified the schedule for the local body polls, now awaits the official court order to determine the fate of the electoral process, which is effectively in question. The court has given the state government four weeks to file a comprehensive counter-affidavit in defence of the reservation increase and allowed the petitioners two weeks to file a rejoinder. The next hearing is scheduled after six weeks. The High Court’s interim stay has triggered protests from BC groups near the High Court premises, who accuse the state government's hurried process of jeopardising their quota.