Rama Krishna Sangem
A landmark conference on “42% Reservations for Backward Classes in Education, Employment, and Local Bodies” was held today at the Basheerbagh Press Club, Hyderabad on April 5. The event brought together eminent legal experts, former administrators, and social justice advocates to deliberate on a comprehensive roadmap for advancing equity and inclusion in India.
The keynote address was delivered by Thiru P. Wilson, Senior Advocate and Member of Rajya Sabha, who praised the Telangana Government led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for introducing the 67% reservation law for SCs, STs, and BCs. He lauded the unity of all political parties in passing the bills and referred to Tamil Nadu’s pioneering model of social justice. Citing the contributions of leaders like Periyar, Anna, and Kalaignar Karunanidhi, he explained the significance of the First Constitutional Amendment and Article 15(4), which enabled reservations for the marginalized.
He highlighted Tamil Nadu’s success in enacting the 69% reservation law and placing it in the IXth Schedule for legal protection, recommending a similar path for Telangana. He also warned of the possible negative implications of the 2026 delimitation exercise, which may dilute southern states’ representation despite their success in population control through family planning.
Constitutional amendment sought
Justice V. Eswaraiah, Former Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), called for unity among BC organizations and urged them not to fall prey to political tactics. He emphasized that mere Government Orders or resolutions are insufficient and that only a constitutional amendment can provide lasting protection to reservation policies.
T. Chirenjeevulu, Former IAS officer and moderator of the session, gave a historical overview of reservation policies and highlighted the urgent need to amend the Constitution to safeguard reservation laws. He urged all BC organizations to continue their struggle and build pressure on the Union Government to include the reservation laws in the IXth Schedule of the Constitution.
Justice B. S. Prasad, Former Acting Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court and Former Advocate General of Telangana, asserted that social justice is not a matter of charity but a constitutional mandate. He emphasized that the true spirit of the Constitution lies in ensuring equitable representation and participation of historically disadvantaged communities. He strongly endorsed the demand for 42% reservations and supported the inclusion of reservation laws in the IXth Schedule as a necessary step to protect them from judicial review.
Kran Kumar, National President of the All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA), urged the youth to unite and take leadership in building pressure on the Union Government to enact robust constitutional safeguards for BC reservations. He emphasized that young people have a critical role to play in the ongoing movement for social justice.
The conference was jointly organized by the BC Intellectual Forum, All India BC Federation, All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA), and Telangana BC Lawyers Front. The event concluded with a strong collective resolve to intensify the movement for constitutional safeguards for BC reservations, drawing inspiration from the successful Tamil Nadu model to ensure long-term and meaningful social justice.
