AI Structured Summary
Not yet generated for this judgment
Judgment
Heard Sri Gundala Siva Prasada Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioners, learned Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Sri Sasanka Bhuvanagiri, learned Standing Counsel for Gram Panchayat and Sri N.Ashwani Kumar, learned Standing Counsel for State Election Commission appearing for the respondents.
The grievance of the petitioners in the instant writ petition is against the action of the respondents in failing to reserve/allot the office of the Sarpanch, Gangadupalli Grama Panchayat, Chandargiri Mandal, Tirupati District, for the Scheduled Castes (SC) category, as highly illegal and contrary to the provisions of Section 15 of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and consequently sought for a direction to the respondents to reserve/allot the same in favour of the SC category.
It is contended that the SC population in the subject Gram Panchayat constitutes a substantial proportion; however, the same has not been taken into consideration while fixing the reservations. In terms of the constitutional mandate under Article 243-D(4), the respondent authorities are under an obligation to follow the principles mandated under the Constitution and ought to have reserved the same for the SC category.
Learned Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development appearing for the respondents has placed before the Court a copy of the written instructions dated 28.10.2026 received from the 5th respondent. A perusal of the same reflects as follows:
“As per the canculation sheet prepared for determining the Sarpanch reservation seats for the year 2026, the formula prescribed by the Government was adopted for calculating the number of seats to be reserved under the Scheduled Caste category. The formula adopted is as follows:
Number of SC-reserved seats = (Total SC population of the Mandal x Total number of Gram Panchayats) ÷ Total population of the Mandal. Accordingly, based on the above formula and the applicable reservation guidelines, five Gram Panchayats were identified for reservation under the Scheduled Caste category, subject to the prescribed rotation and other applicable rules.
Based on the 2011 Census population particulars, the following eight Gram Panchayats have the highest proportion of Scheduled Caste population in Chandragiri Mandal, arranged in descending order: Rayalapuram with 100.000%, Pichinaidupalle with 75,406%, Buchinaidupalle with 41.658%, Chinnaramapuram with 39.188%, Ramireddipalle with 33.053%, Ithepalli with 31.247%, Kandulavaripalli with 27.353%, and Narasingapuram with 26.324%, As per the reservation particulars furnished in the calculation sheet, Rayalapuram was reserved for SC in the 2021 elections, while Pichinaidupalle has been allotted SC Women reservation for 2026. Buchinaidupalle has been allotted SC reservation for 2026, while Chinnaramapuram was reserved for SC Women in the previous election. Ramireddipalle has been allotted ST reservation for 2026, and Ithepalli, Kandulavaripalli and Narasingapuram have been identified for SC reservation in the present elections, with Narasingapuram allotted SC Women reservation.
It is submitted that, although the calculation resulted in 5 seats being identified for reservation under the Scheduled Caste category, the final selection of Gram Panchayats was made by taking into consideration the applicable reservation rotation system and the reservation status of the respective Gram Panchayats in the previous election, as reflected in the calculation sheet. In this regard, Rayalapuram Gram Panchayat, which has the highest proportion of Scheduled Caste population, had already been allotted SC reservation in the previous election and was therefore not selected again under the SC category for the present election, in accordance with the rotation applied in the reservation calculation. Similarly, Chinnaramapuram Gram Panchayat, which had been reserved for SC Women in the previous election, was not selected again under the SC category for the present election, as reflected in the calculation sheet. Accordingly, Pichinaidupalle and Buchinnidupalle Gram Panchayats were selected for SC reservation, Ramireddipalle Gram Panchayat was allotted to the ST category, and Ithepalli, Kandulavaripalli and Narasingapuram Gram Panchayats were also identified for SC reservation, as indicated in the reservation particulars.
Out of the five seats identified for SC reservation, two seats were earmarked for SC Women under the horizontal reservation arrangement. Accordingly, Pichinaidupalle and Narasingapuram Gram Panchayats were reserved for SC Women, while the remaining three (GP's - Buchinaidupalli, Ithepalli and Kandulavaripalli) seats were allotted under the SC category, as indicated in the reservation calculation sheet and the relevant notification. The total 5 Sc Reserved Seats were among top 8 SC Population proportion Gram Panchayaths.
It is further submitted that Gangudupalli Gram Panchayat stands at the 19 position in the descending order of Gram Panchayats based on the proportion of Scheduled Caste population, as per the 2011 Census particulars available for the reservation exercise. In view of the five seats identified for SC reservation and the application of the prescribed rotation system, together with the reservation status of the other Gram Panchayats as reflected in the calculation sheet, Gangudupalli Gram Panchayat has not been allotted SC reservation for the ensuing Ordinary Gram Panchayat Elections, 2026. As per calculation sheet the Gangudupalli Grama Panchayath comes under UR(W) Category.”
Having regard to the grievance raised by the petitioners, it is submitted that the petitioners have made a representation seeking reservation/allotment of the office of Sarpanch of Gangadupalli Gram Panchayat, Chandragiri Mandal, Tirupati District, in favour of the Scheduled Castes (SC) category.
Learned counsel for the petitioners prays for a direction to the respondent authorities to consider and pass appropriate orders on the representation dated 17.10.2026 submitted before the 4th respondent.
Having regard to the contentions advanced and the representation of the petitioners is pending for consideration before the 4th respondent, this Court deems it appopriate to dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the 4th respondent to consider and pass appropriate orders on the representation dated 17.10.2026 of the petitioners forthwith. Needless to observe that pending passing of orders on the said representation will not preclude the authorities from proceeding further in conducting of elections.
Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.
As a sequel, all pending miscellaneous applications shall stand closed.