BC quota: Congress govt likely to approach SC against High Court's interim stay
Hyderabad (PTI): The Congress government in Telangana is likely to approach the Supreme Court against the High Court issuing an interim stay against a Government Order (GO) providing 42 per cent reservation to Backward Classes in local bodies.
In the wake of the High Court issuing the interim stay against the GO, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday discussed the next course of action with his cabinet colleagues, AICC incharge of party affairs in Telangana Meenakshi Natarajan and also Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Congress sources on Saturday said the government is keen on ensuring 42 per cent quota to BCs and that it would soon knock the doors of the Supreme Court for implementation of the GO.
Meanwhile, State Election Commission (SEC) sources on Saturday said the poll body is studying the High Court's order. The panel would consult legal experts to finalize its further course of action, they said.
The High Court on October 9 issued an interim stay on providing 42 per cent BC reservation in local bodies.
Following the court's stay order, the Telangana State Election Commission on the same day announced that the poll notification issued on September 29 for rural local body polls and further activities are being suspended until further notification.
While issuing an interim stay against a Government Order providing 42 per cent BC reservation in local body polls on October 9, the High Court said the State Election Commission would notify the proportionate seats as open category seats and proceed with the elections.
Fulfilling an election promise, the Congress government on September 26 issued an order to provide 42 per cent reservation to BCs in local bodies.
The GO follows two bills passed by the state legislature earlier this year to enhance BC reservation to 42 per cent in education, employment, and local bodies.
The Bills were forwarded to the Governor and are currently awaiting Presidential assent.
Chief Minister Reddy on August 6 led a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi demanding Presidential assent for the BC reservation Bills and alleged that the BJP-led central government was stalling them as it was "anti-OBC".
The ruling Congress had promised before the 2023 assembly polls to provide 42 per cent reservation to the BCs.
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TN Cabinet: CM Vijay to helm gen admin, police, women, youth welfare; Sengottaiyan is Fin min
Chennai (PTI): In his maiden government, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will handle key portfolios including police, general administration and welfare of women, youth and children, while veteran leader K A Sengottaiyan has been designated as the Finance Minister, the Lok Bhavan said on Saturday.
By keeping Home for himself, Vijay continues the trend of Chief Ministers in TN retaining the important portfolio with themselves.
The portfolios for all the 10 ministers, including Vijay, were approved by Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar as per the recommendation of the chief minister, a Tamil Nadu Lok Bhavan press release said.
The portfolio allocations came a week after the council of ministers led by Vijay was sworn in on May 10.
According to the Lok Bhavan, Vijay will handle public, general administration, police, women and youth welfare, welfare of children, aged, differently abled persons, municipal administration and urban and water supply.
N Anand was designated minister for rural development and water resources. Aadhav Arjuna will take care of public works (buildings, highways and minor ports) and sports development. Dr K G Arunraj will be the minister for health, medical education and family welfare, the release said.
P Venkataramanan has been allocated Food and Civil Supplies, while R Nirmalkumar will handle Energy Resources and Law.
Rajmohan shall be the Minister for School Education, Tamil Development, Information and Publicity.
Dr TK Prabhu will handle the portfolios of Natural Resources, Minerals and Mines and S Keerthana will be the minister for industries, the release added.
LOK BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU - PRESS RELEASE
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The Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu has approved the allocation of portfolios among the Council of Ministers. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has recommended to the Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, the portfolios and subject… pic.twitter.com/YlyZ5asEW8
