IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE SRI APARESH KUMAR SINGH AND THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE G.M.MOHIUDDIN WRIT PETITION (PIL) No.4 of 2026 DATE: 11.02.2026 BETWEEN:

Gade Ramana Reddy ….Petitioner AND The State of Telangana, rep. by its Chief Secretary, Secretariat, Hyderabad and 2 others ….Respondents

ORDER

Heard Sri Rapolu Abhinav, learned counsel representing Sri Rapolu Bhaskar learned counsel for the petitioner; Sri Sudharshan Reddy, learned Advocate General appearing for respondent No.1; Sri E.Venkata Reddy, learned Government Pleader for Municipal Administration and Urban Development appearing for respondent No.3 and perused the record.

2. This Writ Petition (Public Interest Litigation) is instituted by Sri Gade Ramana Reddy, a retired Assistant Professor of Chemistry, who claims to be a public-spirited citizen and a member of ‘One World People Group’. The petitioner calls in question the ward-wise reservation notifications issued for the 2^nd Ordinary Elections to the Municipalities and Municipal Corporations, 2026, contending that the extent of reservation fixed in several municipalities ranges between 70% and 90%, which according to him is excessive, disproportionate and violative of Articles 14 and 243-T of the Constitution of India.

3. The relief sought by the petitioner is for issuance of a writ of mandamus declaring the action of the respondents-State in issuing the impugned reservation notifications as illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional, with a consequential direction to re-fix and re-notify the ward-wise reservations strictly in accordance with the Constitutional mandate. Factual Matrix (in brief)

4. The petitioner describes himself as a retired Assistant Professor in Chemistry, having served in SLNS College, Bhongir, Yadadri Bhongir District. It is stated that he is presently engaged in part-time coaching for students preparing for IIT Joint Entrance Examinations and is also involved in agricultural activity.

5. On 27.01.2026, the Telangana State Election Commission issued Notification No.150/TGSEC-ULBs/2026, calling upon the registered voters of 116 Municipalities and 7 Municipal Corporations in the State to elect Ward Members for the 2nd Ordinary Elections, 2026. The election schedule fixed the date of poll as 11.02.2026.

6. Pursuant to the said notification, the District Collectors and District Election Authorities issued District Gazette Notifications specifying ward-wise reservations for Scheduled Tribes (STs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Backward Classes (BCs), Women, and Unreserved categories. The notifications were issued in exercise of the powers delegated by the Government under G.O.Ms.No.9, MA Department, dated 12.01.2026 and G.O.Ms.No.14, MA Department, dated 13.01.2026.

7. The grievance projected in the writ petition pertains to the extent of reservation fixed in several municipalities. According to the averments in the affidavit, the aggregate reservation in certain municipalities ranges between 70% and 90%, leaving only a limited number of wards under the open category. It is stated that in municipalities comprising 15 to 20 wards, only 2 to 4 wards have been left unreserved.

8. The record further discloses that an online grievance was submitted on 01.02.2026 through the official Grievance Redressal System of the Telangana State Election Commission, referring inter alia to the reservation fixed in Jangaon Municipality. The response of the Commission indicates that the reservation process had been finalized and that appropriate legal remedy could be pursued. A representation is also stated to have been addressed to the Hon’ble Chief Minister on 04.02.2026.

9. The writ petition also calls in question G.O.Ms.No.9 dated 12.01.2026 and G.O.Ms.No.14 dated 13.01.2026. It is mentioned in the affidavit that copies of the said Government Orders were not available on the official website, and an Interlocutory Application has been filed seeking a direction to the respo