Telangana HC Spikes Writ, State Says It Targets Collectors

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday rejected a warrant order challenging the state government’s decision to reduce Backward Class (BC) reservations from 24 per cent to 17 per cent in the upcoming gram oanchayat elections. The petition filed by Telangana BC Sankshema Sangam questioned the validity of orders given by district collectors in 32 poll-bound districts and alleged that the state acted arbitrarily by revising the reservation quota just a few days before the election notification was issued on November 25.

A division bench comprising Justice P. Sam Koshy and Justice Suddala Chalapathi Rao expressed strong opposition to the petitioners’ decision to issue a warrant against the district collectors. The bench stated that such a writ challenged the authority of an individual to hold public office and questioned whether the petitioners sought removal of collectors from their posts.

The petitioners argued that the reduction of BC bookings was carried out hastily, in the middle of the night and without sufficient justification. They argued that the writ was necessary because the State had not filed a counter-affidavit on issues related to reservation policy.

Solicitor General A. Sudershan Reddy, speaking on behalf of the state, submitted that the quo warranto petition against district collectors, who are administrative officers appointed and serving under the law, was not tenable. He argued that precedent decisions regarding elected representatives could not be applied to administrative officials.