Form panel to conduct empirical data on BC quota in local body polls: Telangana CM Reddy tells officials

A Revanth Reddy, who held a review meeting with Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, D Sridhar Babu, Damodar Raja Narasimha and senior officials reiterated that the state government is committed to conduct the Backward Class caste census.

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday directed the officials to constitute a dedicated commission by November 4, to conduct empirical data over reservations for Backward Classes in local bodies elections.

Reddy, who held a review meeting with Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, D Sridhar Babu, Damodar Raja Narasimha and senior officials reiterated that the state government is committed to conduct the BC caste census.

The chief minister instructed the officials to take necessary steps to constitute the commission by tomorrow (Monday), an official release said.

The Telangana High Court on October 30 directed the state government to appoint within two weeks a dedicated commission in place of 'Backward Classes Commission' for conducting "contemporaneous, rigorous empirical data" for the purpose of providing reservations for OBCs in the local body elections in the state.

The caste survey is scheduled to begin in the state on November 6.

The High Court on September 10 directed the state government to undertake a contemporaneous empirical survey within three months to come out with recommendations on reservations for Backward Classes in local body elections.

The court had cited a Supreme Court direction that states must undertake contemporaneous empirical inquiry to identify the "quantum qua" local body or local body specific before earmarking reservations.