HYDERABAD: Telangana has become the first state in India to legally implement Scheduled Caste (SC) categorisation following the Supreme Court’s landmark verdict on August 1, 2024. Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt N. Uttam Kumar Reddy made the historic announcement on Monday during Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat.
Flanked by ministers Damodar Raja Narasimha, Ponnam Prabhakar, and MP Balram Naik, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Congress Government had fulfilled a long-pending demand through a transparent and legally sound process. “We released the official Government Order today and handed over the first copy to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy,” he said.
He stated that while all political parties had previously expressed verbal support for SC categorisation, no government had shown the courage or will to implement it until now. “The Congress Government has done what no other could – implemented SC categorisation legally, inclusively, and with full preparedness,” he said.
Legal Framework Enacted
The state government issued three critical Government Orders on April 14, 2025:
- G.O.Ms. No. 9: Notified the SC (Rationalisation of Reservations) Act, 2025.
- G.O.Ms. No. 10: Detailed the implementation rules for the Act.
- G.O.Ms. No. 99: Issued by the General Administration Department to apply the categorisation across all government services.
Uttam Kumar Reddy clarified that the new categorisation would not affect recruitment notifications issued before August 1, 2024. “No new notifications were issued after that date to ensure legal compliance. From Tuesday onwards, all departments have been directed to issue fresh notifications under the new system,” he said.
Group-Wise Reservation Structure
The categorisation reorganises the existing 15% SC reservation into three groups based on socio-economic indicators, as recommended by the Justice Shamim Akhtar Commission:
- Group I: 15 most disadvantaged sub-castes (3.288% of SC population) – 1% reservation
- Group II: 18 moderately represented sub-castes (62.74%) – 9% reservation
- Group III: 26 relatively better-off sub-castes (33.963%) – 5% reservation
All government recruitment and admission notifications will now specify group-wise allocation of SC reservations.
Carry-Forward and Monitoring Mechanism
A key feature of the implementation rules is the carry-forward provision. If a reserved post for a specific group is left unfilled due to a lack of eligible candidates, it must be carried forward to the next cycle rather than being reallocated. Departments are required to take proactive measures to fill such posts, including deadline extensions and targeted outreach.
A State-level Monitoring Committee will oversee implementation. Departments must maintain detailed records by SC group and submit quarterly compliance reports. Non-compliance could result in disciplinary action.
Importantly, the Congress Government rejected the introduction of a creamy layer within SC categories. “We are here to ensure justice, not exclusion,” said Uttam Kumar Reddy, affirming that reservation benefits would not be denied based on income or occupation.
Backed by Data and Political Will
The categorisation is based on findings from the Justice Shamim Akhtar Commission, constituted in October 2024. The Commission analysed over 8,600 public submissions and evaluated population, education, employment, financial aid, and political representation across 59 SC sub-castes.
A Cabinet Sub-Committee chaired by Uttam Kumar Reddy and comprising Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha (Vice-Chairman), Ministers D. Seethakka, Ponnam Prabhakar, and MP Balram Naik reviewed the Commission’s findings before finalising the implementation plan.
A Vision of Social Justice
Uttam Kumar Reddy credited the initiative to the ideological commitment of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. “His unwavering support for the marginalised laid the foundation for this bold legislative step,” he said. “We responded to the Supreme Court verdict within hours and took immediate action to fulfil our promise.”
Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha said the reform corrected internal disparities among Dalit communities. “The most neglected sub-castes are now guaranteed their due share,” he remarked.
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the move would be remembered as a landmark constitutional reform. “This is not just a policy—it is a correction of historical injustice,” he said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy concluded by noting that the SC quota was based on the 2011 Census, but with the SC population now estimated at 17.5%, the state would consider enhancing the reservation post the 2026 Census.
“With these rules now enforced, Telangana has taken a pioneering step toward equitable justice, setting a new national benchmark for SC categorisation backed by legal, social, and political resolve,” he declared.
సామాజిక న్యాయం కోసం అందరికీ సమాన అవకాశాలను కల్పించాలన్న లక్ష్యంతో, డా. బీఆర్ అంబేద్కర్ గారి జయంతి నాడు ప్రజా ప్రభుత్వం ఎస్సీ ఉపకులాల వర్గీకరణ గెజిట్ నోటిఫికేషన్ను విడుదల చేసింది. ముఖ్యమంత్రి @revanth_anumula గారికి మంత్రివర్గ ఉపసంఘం జీవో తొలి కాపీని అందజేసింది.
డాక్టర్ బీఆర్… pic.twitter.com/jEJnrXsyCr
— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) April 14, 2025
