The Supreme Court has taken a significant step towards addressing the plight of the marginalized Settibalija community in Telangana by issuing notice in response to a writ petition filed by the Telangana Settibalija Sankshema Sangham (TSSS).
This petition challenges the denial of reservation and other OBC rights to the Settibalija community since the reorganization of Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
Case So Far:
Filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, the petition highlights how the absence of reservation has severely impacted the educational and employment opportunities for thousands of youth within the Settibalija community in Telangana.
The community has been grappling with economic and social challenges exacerbated by the lack of access to affirmative action programs.
The government accorded OBC status to the Settibalija toddy tapper community in the undivided Andhra Pradesh as far back as 1970.
However, following the reorganization in 2014, concerns arose regarding their exclusion from the Telangana State OBC list.
The petitioners argue that neither the Telangana Government nor the Telangana Backward Classes Commission had formally decided to exclude the Settibalija community from the OBC list.
They attribute the issue to inadvertent documentation errors that they have since corrected.
Despite the rectification, the community continues to face the denial of OBC status, allegedly due to the misuse of outdated records.
The case is slated to be heard by the Apex Court in September 2024, coinciding with appeals lodged by 26 other OBC communities from undivided Andhra Pradesh.
These appeals stem from a judgment by the High Court of Telangana, which upheld the removal of these communities from the Telangana State OBC list.
Representing the Settibalija community in this legal battle are Prof. (Dr.) G Mohan Gopal, Advocate, alongside Advocate D Mahesh Babu and Advocate on Record Amit K Nain.
Their efforts signify a crucial endeavor to rectify historical injustices and ensure equitable treatment for all marginalized communities within the state.
As the case progresses, it stands as a beacon of hope for those advocating for the restoration of rights and dignity to the Settibalija community and other marginalized groups in Telangana.
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