The Supreme Court of India on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by the Andhra Pradesh government, which sought to challenge a High Court order striking down government mandates providing a 34% reservation for backward classes in local body elections. A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu deemed the High Court's ruling to be reasonable.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court had previously invalidated the two government orders on October 1. In its decision, the High Court observed that the proposed 34% quota was in violation of established Supreme Court guidelines, which dictate that the total quantum of reservation must not exceed 50%.
Following the High Court's directive, the state government and the State Election Commission have been instructed to commence the election process within six weeks. The reservation policy had been announced by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on August 18, who described the measure as part of the coalition government’s political principles and a fulfillment of promises made to backward classes regarding nominated posts.
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