Overview
- The Supreme Court on Friday, October 9, dismissed Andhra Pradesh’s appeal and upheld the state High Court order that set aside government orders giving 34% reservation to Backward Classes in local bodies because the measures exceeded the 50% aggregate reservation limit.
- Also on October 9 the Madhya Pradesh High Court struck down the 2019 law that raised OBC reservation from 14% to 27%, restored the 14% cap and held the state failed to show the extraordinary circumstances required to breach the 50% ceiling.
- The MP bench ordered recruitment agencies including the MPPSC and Employees Selection Board to fill the 13% of posts that were kept on hold from the unreserved list within three months and protected appointments made under the extra quota up to a specified cutoff date.
- Both courts relied on Supreme Court precedents such as Indra Sawhney and questioned the legal basis or admissibility of state data—notably Andhra’s Unified Family Survey—saying reliable empirical proof and consultation with bodies like the NCBC are required to justify exceeding the ceiling.
- Political leaders and parties have vowed further legal and political action with Madhya Pradesh planning a Supreme Court challenge and Andhra politicians debating party-level seat allocation, while courts have allowed local-body elections to proceed using existing electoral rolls if needed.