The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the Telangana government’s plea challenging the high court’s order related to enhancement of reservations to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies.
what is it about
1. Government orders to increase OBC reservation
The case relates to three Government Orders (GOs) passed by the Telangana government on September 26 this year.
In one of the orders, the state government has decided to increase OBC reservations in municipalities and panchayats to 42%. The move, taken ahead of elections to such local bodies, has effectively increased the total reservations (OBC, SC, ST, etc.) to 67%, the Bar and Bench said.
Two other subsequent government orders laid down guidelines for fixing such reservations in respect of elections to Mandal Praja Parishads, Zilla Praja Parishads and Gram Panchayats under the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018.
2. Petitions filed against orders of Telangana Govt
Some petitioners in the High Court challenged the government’s order dated 26 September 2025, saying that the 42% quota for Backwards Classes increases the total reservation in local bodies to 67%.
“It exceeds the 50% cap on reservations that the court has set in its judgments,” the petitioners argued.
3. Telangana HC stays Govt orders
On October 9, the Telangana High Court stayed this increase in reservations while it considered a number of petitions filed on the matter. The Supreme Court directed the state to submit its reply within four weeks.
According to the Bar and Bench, a High Court bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin opined that such increase in OBC quota appears to violate the 50% limit laid down by the Supreme Court in various jurisprudence for such a reservation.
It therefore stayed with the VO while clarifying that local body elections can be held without implementing the proposed increase in OBC quotas.
The Telangana government then filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s interim stay.
4. SC orders: “You may proceed with the election”
On Thursday, October 16, the Supreme Court bench of Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta reportedly refused to interfere with the High Court’s preliminary order.
According to the Bar and Bench, the Supreme Court bench said the local elections can go ahead without the proposed increase in OBC reservations.
“You may proceed with the election… (state’s appeal) dismissed… The order will not affect the High Court in deciding the case on its own merits,” the Supreme Court quoted the ruling as saying.
Meanwhile, the High Court is scheduled to hear the case in December next year.
