The Telangana High Court has intervened in the ongoing confusion surrounding the local body elections in the state, issuing key directions to both the state government and the Election Commission (EC). The court has asked them to provide clarity within two weeks regarding the dates for the elections. The court emphasized the need for the government and the Election Commission to hold discussions and reach a final decision on the matter.
The Election Commission had recently suspended the local body election notification after the High Court struck down a government order (GO) that sought to increase the BC (Backward Classes) reservation to 42%. A petition challenging the Election Commission’s decision was filed by lawyer Surender, prompting a hearing in the High Court. During the proceedings, the court reminded the parties that the Supreme Court had previously suggested that elections could be conducted, adding to the complexity of the situation.
In response, the lawyer representing the Election Commission clarified that the Supreme Court’s suggestion was only oral and not backed by any written order. He explained that the notification had been issued based on the 42% BC reservation, and its suspension was due to the invalidity of the reservation order. He further stated that a new notification could only be issued after discussions with the government to resolve the reservation issue, noting that the process would require additional time. The lawyers representing both the government and the Election Commission requested a two-week extension to resolve the issue, which the High Court granted, postponing further proceedings until the matter is settled.