Andhra High Court quashes 34% backward class quota in local body elections

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday struck down two government orders providing 34% reservation for backward classes in local body elections, ruling that the quota breached Supreme Court guidelines mandating that total reservation should not exceed 50%. The court directed the state government and State Election Commission to begin the election process within six weeks.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had announced the 34% quota for Backward Classes in August, describing it as 'correcting injustice' and a historic move. Under the order, backward classes would receive 34% reservation in rural local bodies and 33.33% in urban local bodies. Naidu had framed the increase from the previous 20% quota as fulfillment of the TDP-led NDA government's 2024 election promise, arguing that since BCs constitute 50.54% of the state's population, justice must be ensured for them.

The court's decision represents a setback to the Naidu government and is likely to intensify pressure from BC organisations. The court also rejected the YSRCP's petition seeking postponement of elections, directing that the final voter list be published and local body elections be conducted as scheduled.