Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had an hour-long meeting with Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon and discussed the following eleven issues and submitted letters pertaining to them.
Reservations in favour of SC/ST/BCs
CM KCR in his letter on reservations to SC, ST and BC issue mentioned that: “consequent to the formation of Telangana State, proportion of weaker sections population has increased compared to the combined State of Andhra Pradesh. Thus, post bifurcation, the share of STs in Telangana has increased from 7.11% in undivided Andhra Pradesh to 9.08%. Likewise, the population of Muslims in Telangana increased from 9.56% in Andhra Pradesh 12.68%. The proportion of Backward Communities population has increased to over 50% of the total population. Therefore, there arose a need to relook at the percentage of Reservations in favour of SC/ST/BC in the State”.
“Telangana State Commission for Backward Classes in its report on 11/04/2017, had recommended for enhancement of the percentage of reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes under BC-E Group from the existing 4% to 12%. According to the judgement of Supreme Court it had capped the reservations at 50%.
However, the Supreme Court has also clarified that, if it should exceed 50%, the State shall make out a case showing compelling circumstances for exceeding the limit. Tamil Nadu is providing 69% reservation in the State”.
“A Bill titled “Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in Educational Institutions and of appointments or posts in the services under the State) Bill 2017 to provide reservations of seats in Educational institutions in the State and of appointments or posts in the services under the State for the Backward Classes citizens and for persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the State of Telangana has been passed by the State Legislature on 16.04.2017”.
“The Governor of Telangana has reserved the Bill for President’s assent, which is pending with the Ministry of Home Affairs from April 2017.
In the above backdrop, I request you to instruct Ministry of Home Affairs to expedite the process and accord President’s assent early”.
To amend the Presidential Order on Zonal system
CM KCR in his letter mentioned that: “As per section 97 of the A.P.Reorganization Act 2014, the provisions made under Article 371-D have been continued in the State of Telangana to provide equitable opportunities to the people belonging to different parts of the State.
The Andhra Pradesh Public Employment Organisation of Local Cadres and Regulation of Direct Recruitment Order, 1975 (commonly known as Presidential Order) which was operational in the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh provided for 6 zones. After bifurcation, the zones V and VI are within the state of Telangana, while other zones are in the successor state of Andhra Pradesh.
In order to take administration closer to the people, Telangana State Government had reorganized the erstwhile 10 districts into 31 districts on 11.10.2016. In the back drop of formation of new state with 31 districts, there is a need to issue a fresh Presidential Order adjusting zones, multi-zones and State cadre etc., under section 371-D of the Constitution of India. I have requested Hon’ble Union Home Minister to approve the Presidential Order, as required by the State of Telangana. I request that suitable direction may kindly be issued to the Ministry of Home Affairs to amend the Presidential Order early.
Separate High Court for Telangana
CM KCR in his letter mentioned that: “The long-cherished dream of Telangana remains unfulfilled as the Telangana State does not have its own separate High Court. The High Court at Hyderabad is contemplated to be common High Court for a short period in view of the lack of time to establish separate High Court for the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh at the time of Reorganisation of Andhra Pradesh. At present out of 29 Hon’ble Judges in the High Court only 6 are from Telangana region. Indeed there is a feeling among the people of Telangana that formation of the State is still incomplete without having its own High Court.
Hon’ble Union Law Minister has given an assurance on the floor of Parliament to expedite the process to have separate High Court as per the provisions of article 214 of the Constitution of India read with section 31 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014. However, except for the fixation of the strength of the Judges of the common High Court at Hyderabad in the ratio of 60: 40 between the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as communicated by the Ministry of Law, Government of India, there is no further development in this matter.
The process may be expedited, and the Law Ministry may be directed to take immediate steps for establishment of separate High Court for the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh without any further delay”.
Grant of 20,000/- crores for Kaleshwaram Project
CM KCR on this subject in his letter mentioned that, “Kaleshwaram Project on Godavari river on completion is going to be the life line of Telangana. I express my gratitude to you as this project has been accorded all required statutory clearances like by various Ministries and Agencies of the Government of India in a shortest possible time. Kaleshwaram Project in addition to providing drinking water and industrial water would irrigate over 18 lakh acres land in 20 districts of Telangana.
The total project costing over ₹ 80,000/- crores currently under implementation at a brisk pace, is an engineering marble making every Indian proud of our techno-managerial capabilities. We have so far, spent about ₹ 25,000/- crores on it from the finances available with the state government and another ₹22,000/- crore loan had been tied up with national financial institutions.
Our objective is to complete this project without any time and cost overrun. Availability of required financial resources will ensure early completion of this project. I am writing this letter to you with a request to arrange a grant of ₹20,000/- crores from Government of India”.
