AP High Court strikes down 34% BC reservation government orders issued by the Andhra Pradesh state government for upcoming local body elections. In a landmark judgment delivered today, the division bench quashed executive orders promulgated by the Panchayati Raj and Municipal Administration departments. The court determined that extending thirty-four percent quota to Backward Classes breached established legal guidelines regarding total reservation limits in local governance.

The court invalidation targets state government orders issued to secure higher quota percentages for Backward Classes across rural and urban local self-government institutions. Legal petitioners challenged the government notifications on the grounds that overall reservations exceeded statutory limits established under Constitutional mandates and Supreme Court precedents. The bench agreed with the arguments, ruling that administrative notifications cannot override prescribed judicial caps.

Did The High Court Reject Election Delay Applications In AP?

Allowing public interest litigations seeking immediate polls, the High Court directed the State Election Commission to initiate and conclude the local election process within 6 weeks. The court dismissed arguments seeking delays based on ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists or pending dedicated commission census reports. The bench instructed election authorities to proceed strictly in accordance with statutory provisions.

The decision presents a major policy challenge for the state leadership, which had pledged 34% reservation for Backward Classes in local governance. Political opposition groups cited the ruling to criticize executive reliance on administrative GOs rather than statutory legislation. Meanwhile, the clear 6-week directive clears the legal runway for long-delayed local body polls across Andhra Pradesh.