Andhra Pradesh Government has appointed a single-member Dedicated Commission headed by former IAS officer Rajiv Ranjan Mishra to conduct an empirical inquiry into the nature and extent of backwardness among Backward Classes (BCs) in relation to reservations in local body elections.
The appointment was made through Government Order (GO Ms No.3) issued by the Backward Classes Welfare (F) Department on February 19. The move comes ahead of the expiry of the five-year term of 87 local bodies, including Urban Local Bodies, Gram Panchayats, and Mandal and Zilla Praja Parishads, necessitating fresh elections.
As per Articles 243E(3)(a) and 243U(3)(a) of the Constitution, elections to local bodies must be conducted before the expiry of the term of existing elected bodies. The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission had earlier informed the government about the impending expiry of terms and the need to complete the election process within the constitutional timeline.
However, reservations for BCs in local body elections must comply with the “triple test” mandated by the Supreme Court of India. In key judgments, the apex court directed states to constitute a dedicated commission to conduct a contemporaneous empirical study on backwardness, determine reservation proportions based on the findings, and ensure that total reservations do not exceed the constitutional ceiling.
According to the government order, the newly formed commission will undertake a comprehensive empirical assessment to determine the nature, extent, and implications of backwardness among BCs across local bodies in Andhra Pradesh. The findings will form the basis for specifying reservation proportions in compliance with constitutional provisions and Supreme Court guidelines.
The order emphasised that the study must reflect current ground realities rather than rely on outdated data, ensuring that reservations remain both constitutionally valid and socially equitable.
The commission has been directed to submit its report within 45 days, highlighting the urgency of the exercise in view of the upcoming elections. D Chandrasekhara Raju, Additional Director of Backward Classes Welfare, has been appointed as Secretary to the Commission.
The issue of BC reservations carries significant political importance in Andhra Pradesh, where Backward Classes constitute a substantial portion of the electorate. Once the report is submitted, the government will examine its recommendations and notify the reservation proportions for local bodies accordingly.
Meanwhile, BC Welfare Minister S Savitha said the government aims to increase BC reservations in local body elections to 34 percent, up from the current 24 percent, in line with its poll promise. She expressed confidence that the commission’s recommendations would ensure justice and enhance political representation for Backward Classes in local governance.
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