New Delhi, 09 October (H.S.): The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition filed by the Andhra Pradesh government challenging a High Court order that quashed its decision to provide 34 per cent reservation for Backward Classes in local body elections. A Bench headed by Justice Dipankar Datta dismissed the plea.

The Supreme Court observed that the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s order was justified, noting that the state government had failed to produce supporting data to substantiate its decision. The Bench questioned the validity of the figures cited by the state, observing that the data had been drawn from United Family Surveys and asking under which legal framework those surveys had been conducted.

On October 1, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had quashed two government orders relating to the reservation policy. It held that the proposed quota was contrary to the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the landmark Indra Sawhney v. Union of India judgment, which stipulates that total reservation should ordinarily not exceed 50 per cent.

The High Court had accordingly set aside Government Orders 105 and 1065, which provided for the reservation arrangement.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar