HYDERABAD: Following the Congress govt’s submission of the ordinance proposing 42% reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies, all eyes are now on governor Jishnu Dev Varma, who is expected to seek legal advice before deciding on its approval. Speculation is rife that the governor may scrutinise whether an ordinance is legally permissible when a bill on the same subject has already been passed by the state legislature. Typically, an ordinance is followed by the introduction of a bill to regularise the decision. However, in this case, the assembly has already enacted a separate bill on BC reservations, and the ordinance instead amends a different law – the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018 – to facilitate its implementation. Once approved, this would empower the govt to issue a special order enforcing 42% BC quota in panchayats and other local bodies. Officials remain hopeful of the governor’s assent, citing the legal soundness of the amendment.Political oppositionHowever, political opposition is growing. Former BRS minister Srinivas Goud claimed that such an ordinance is untenable, citing similar efforts during the BRS govt that were challenged in court. “Since a bill has already been passed, an ordinance on the same issue is not valid,” he said. Constitutional experts said if the governor withholds approval, it could trigger a major political confrontation between the Congress and BJP, with wider implications for the state’s ongoing reservation debate.
Poll
Should the governor approve the ordinance on BC reservations?
