Telangana’s Scheduled Castes Reservation Gets a Revamp
In a landmark move, Telangana has decided to shake up its reservation system for Scheduled Castes (SCs). A one-member Judicial Commission, led by retired High Court judge Justice Shameem Akhtar, has suggested dividing the SC reservation into three groups to make sure everyone gets a fair share.
Three Groups for Fairer Representation
The Commission looked at 59 SC communities in Telangana and split them into three groups based on their social, economic, and educational situations. The first group includes 15 communities who are the most backward. They make up about 3.288% of the SC population, as per the 2011 census, and the Commission wants them to have 1% reservation.
The second group has 18 communities who have seen some improvement but still need support. They represent a larger chunk, about 62.74% of the SC population, and are recommended to get 9% reservation. The third group consists of 26 communities who have benefited the most from reservation so far. They make up 33.963% of the SC population, and the Commission suggests a 5% reservation for them.
Addressing Decades of Demand for Change
This move comes after a long struggle. For thirty years, people have been asking for changes to the SC reservation system. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy presented the Commission’s report in a special session of the Assembly. He said that the government wanted to find a solution that would last and follow the guidelines of the Supreme Court’s decision on the issue.
A Historic Day for Telangana
Reddy was very happy about this change, calling it one of the most satisfying days in his political career. He remembered being removed from the Assembly in the past for pushing for this very cause. Now, he’s leading the charge to implement it. He credits the Constitution, drafted by [[B.R. Ambedkar]], for making this possible.
How the Decision Was Made
A Cabinet Sub-Committee was formed on September 12, 2024, to look into the Supreme Court’s order on sub-classification of SCs. This Sub-Committee then suggested setting up the one-member Judicial Commission, which was formed in October. The Commission carefully looked at how backward different SC communities are compared to each other and considered the Supreme Court’s ruling on this topic. Telangana is leading the way in putting this new system into action, setting an example for other states to follow. The Chief Minister had earlier announced this intent after the Supreme Court’s judgment on August 1. This latest news marks a significant step in Telangana’s efforts to ensure fair representation and uplift its Scheduled Caste communities.