Hyderabad: Taking the first step on decades-old demand by the Madiga community for sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the state, the Telangana govt on Tuesday accepted the division of 59 castes into three groups. The cabinet, led by chief minister A Revanth Reddy, approved Justice (retd) Shameem Akthar’s one-man commission report, which was later adopted by the assembly.
The govt accepted the recommendation of giving 1% reservation to 15 SC sub-castes in Group I, 9% to castes in Group II, and 5% to 26 sub-castes in Group-III based on their population percentage.
The state govt, however, rejected the commission’s recommendation of carving a creamy layer among the SCs. In its order on sub-categorisation in Aug 2024, the Supreme Court too had asked for the creamy layer to be identified and excluded from among the SCs.
Revanth said the state govt will observe Feb 4 as ‘social justice day’ every year.
At the same time, the one-man commission has recommended that the next generation of beneficiaries such as MLAs, MPs, ZP chairpersons, mayors, and other elected representatives and Group I officers belonging to the SCs should not be given reservations. Revanth said the cabinet sub-committee decided not to accept the recommendation of creamy layer.
“I have been in politics for the past two decades. This day, Feb 4, 2025, is a historic, most memorable day in my life as I got an opportunity to place the Justice Shameem Akthar’s report in the assembly. The Congress govt will implement the recommendations of the one-man commission,” Revanth Reddy announced. “The govt will bring in a legislation and issue GOs to implement the sub-categorisation and avoid future litigation,” he added and said the Telangana govt was now ready to help other states in implementing sub-categorisation and carrying out caste survey.
The commission identified 15 SC sub-castes as the most backward socially, financially, and educationally, and the most neglected castes. The castes that constitute only 3% of the total SC population in the state got 1% reservation. The 18 Group II castes, which got reasonably well benefits, were given 9% reservation, and the 26 sub-castes that got good benefits through reservations got 5%. In the Group III category, a majority of them are from Mala sub-castes.
The one-man commission recommended a preferential model for filling up vacancies in govt departments. “If posts which were notified for Group I castes could not be filled due to non-availability of candidates, the second preference goes to Group II. Similarly, the unfilled Group II castes go to Group III. If all the three Group castes candidates are not available, the vacancies should be carried forward,” the commission said.
Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) has been fighting for the sub-categorisation of SCs since 1994 and staged many protests. Though the then TDP govt tried to implement SC sub-categorisation by dividing them into A, B, C, and D, the decision faced legal hurdles and the sub-categorisation was spiked. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who came to Hyderabad and participated in the MRPS meeting, responded positively to the division of SCs and even constituted a committee at the national level.
After the Supreme Court’s verdict, the Congress govt in Telangana responded positively and took steps for categorisation of the SCs. Speaking in the assembly, CM Revanth Reddy said the Congress govt in Telangana was the first state in the country to take a decision on SC sub-categorisation immediately after the Supreme Court judgment last year.
“The state govt made a statement on Aug 1, 2024, in the assembly that the Congress govt was committed to sub-categorisation. The govt constituted a cabinet sub-committee on Sept 12, 2024, to recommend further steps and also study how other states were doing it. After taking legal opinion, the govt constituted a one-man commission in Oct 2024 to recommend sub-categorisation,” the CM added.
Revanth Reddy said Congress provided opportunities to Dalits in all sectors. He recalled when he gave an adjournment motion when he was in opposition earlier, he was sent out of the assembly. “Now, as the leader of the House, presenting the report and taking the decision to implement it. This was possible due to Ambedkar’s Constitution, and I thank those who helped in taking the decisions,” the CM said.
The govt accepted the recommendation of giving 1% reservation to 15 SC sub-castes in Group I, 9% to castes in Group II, and 5% to 26 sub-castes in Group-III based on their population percentage.
The state govt, however, rejected the commission’s recommendation of carving a creamy layer among the SCs. In its order on sub-categorisation in Aug 2024, the Supreme Court too had asked for the creamy layer to be identified and excluded from among the SCs.
Revanth said the state govt will observe Feb 4 as ‘social justice day’ every year.
At the same time, the one-man commission has recommended that the next generation of beneficiaries such as MLAs, MPs, ZP chairpersons, mayors, and other elected representatives and Group I officers belonging to the SCs should not be given reservations. Revanth said the cabinet sub-committee decided not to accept the recommendation of creamy layer.
“I have been in politics for the past two decades. This day, Feb 4, 2025, is a historic, most memorable day in my life as I got an opportunity to place the Justice Shameem Akthar’s report in the assembly. The Congress govt will implement the recommendations of the one-man commission,” Revanth Reddy announced. “The govt will bring in a legislation and issue GOs to implement the sub-categorisation and avoid future litigation,” he added and said the Telangana govt was now ready to help other states in implementing sub-categorisation and carrying out caste survey.
The commission identified 15 SC sub-castes as the most backward socially, financially, and educationally, and the most neglected castes. The castes that constitute only 3% of the total SC population in the state got 1% reservation. The 18 Group II castes, which got reasonably well benefits, were given 9% reservation, and the 26 sub-castes that got good benefits through reservations got 5%. In the Group III category, a majority of them are from Mala sub-castes.
The one-man commission recommended a preferential model for filling up vacancies in govt departments. “If posts which were notified for Group I castes could not be filled due to non-availability of candidates, the second preference goes to Group II. Similarly, the unfilled Group II castes go to Group III. If all the three Group castes candidates are not available, the vacancies should be carried forward,” the commission said.
Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) has been fighting for the sub-categorisation of SCs since 1994 and staged many protests. Though the then TDP govt tried to implement SC sub-categorisation by dividing them into A, B, C, and D, the decision faced legal hurdles and the sub-categorisation was spiked. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who came to Hyderabad and participated in the MRPS meeting, responded positively to the division of SCs and even constituted a committee at the national level.
After the Supreme Court’s verdict, the Congress govt in Telangana responded positively and took steps for categorisation of the SCs. Speaking in the assembly, CM Revanth Reddy said the Congress govt in Telangana was the first state in the country to take a decision on SC sub-categorisation immediately after the Supreme Court judgment last year.
“The state govt made a statement on Aug 1, 2024, in the assembly that the Congress govt was committed to sub-categorisation. The govt constituted a cabinet sub-committee on Sept 12, 2024, to recommend further steps and also study how other states were doing it. After taking legal opinion, the govt constituted a one-man commission in Oct 2024 to recommend sub-categorisation,” the CM added.
Revanth Reddy said Congress provided opportunities to Dalits in all sectors. He recalled when he gave an adjournment motion when he was in opposition earlier, he was sent out of the assembly. “Now, as the leader of the House, presenting the report and taking the decision to implement it. This was possible due to Ambedkar’s Constitution, and I thank those who helped in taking the decisions,” the CM said.
