Telangana says ‘will be first state’ to implement SC quota sub-classification after order

MRPS leader Srinivas Yadav urged the two state governments to complete the surveys quickly to ascertain the exact population of each marginalised community among the SCs and STs. “The numbers are already in the possession of the state governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. They just have to make it public and implement reservations in accordance with the numerical strength,” he said.

Welcoming the apex court order, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth said the state would be the first to implement it. “I sincerely thank the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India. Six out of seven judges said that state governments can take up the sub-classification. On behalf of the state government, I am making an announcement that Telangana would be the first state to implement the sub-classification,” the CM said.

Reddy, speaking in the Assembly, said his government will immediately start the process of sub-classification in accordance with the apex court’s order. “The state government will take appropriate measures to implement the reservations for Madigas and other sub-castes in the current job notification as well. An ordinance to this effect will be issued,” he said.

Madigas are the largest among the 59 SC sub-castes in Telangana followed by the Malas. According to unofficial estimates of the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government, SCs make up around 19% of the state’s population. According to the 2011 Census, the MRPS claims SC population in the state to be 54.32 lakh, of which Madigas make up 32.22 lakh while 15.27 lakh are Malas.

The STs, on the other hand, are divided into 33 sub-groups in the two states and make up 10% and 6% of the population in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh respectively.

Telangana Mala Sanghams’ leader Cheruku Ramchander also talked of the “skewed implementation” of reservations for SCs and STs. “We are happy with the Supreme Court order. I appeal to all SC sub-castes to accept it and urge governments to start surveys soon,” he said.

The Supreme Court order comes months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a rally in Hyderabad with the MRPS chief on November 11 last year, promised to constitute a committee to look into the issue. The announcement was met with loud cheers from the crowd and left the MRPS chief in tears. The MRPS subsequently extended support to the BJP in the Assembly elections in Telangana that followed.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu called the ruling a favourable order. “Social justice is the policy of the NDA. I had introduced SC categorisation in 1996-1997 based on the recommendations of the Ramachandra Rao Commission. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has always been and will be committed to social justice. We will ensure justice for every community and provide benefits to them based on their numerical strength,” he said at Sunnipets in Nandyal district after visiting the Srisailam temple.

The apex court ruling may also have a ripple effect and nudge state governments to conduct a survey of Backward Classes (BCs), which are divided into 134 sub-groups in the Telugu states. The Congress government has already passed a resolution to this effect in the Assembly. “The survey data will help us extend support to the BCs, STs and SCs by providing financial aid, improving their social conditions, providing education-related facilities, scholarships and creating more employment opportunities for them,” BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said.

Naidu, who recently stormed to power, had aggressively wooed the BCs. The Andhra CM had said he was in favour of a caste-based survey and in October 2021, wrote to Modi seeking a caste-based census for BCs claiming it was essential for their progress and welfare.