Overview
- A division bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin suspended G.O. Ms. 9 and related election notifications following two days of hearings.
- The court directed the Telangana government to file a counter affidavit within four weeks and allowed petitioners two additional weeks to reply, pausing the poll process.
- Judges pressed the state on the ‘triple test’, publication of the BC commission’s data, the status of Governor’s assent, and Section 285A’s 50% ceiling for combined SC/ST/BC reservations.
- Petitioners argued the 42% BC quota would raise overall reservations to 67%, violating Supreme Court precedents including Indra Sawhney and K. Krishna Murthy.
- Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy asked officials to examine legal options, including a possible Supreme Court appeal, as reports indicated the stay could delay elections by about six weeks.