The Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a major exercise ahead of the upcoming panchayat elections by setting up a dedicated commission to examine reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies.
The move is being viewed as a significant administrative and political development as the state prepares to finalise the reservation framework for grassroots polls.
Retired High Court Judge Appointed to Lead Commission
The state administration has appointed retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Ram Autar Singh as chairperson of the newly constituted OBC Commission.
The panel has been given a six-month tenure and will study representation patterns of backward communities across panchayats in the state.
Other members of the commission include retired judicial officers Brijesh Kumar and Santosh Kumar Vishwakarma, along with former IAS officers Dr Arvind Kumar Chaurasia and SP Singh.
Officials said the commission combines judicial and administrative expertise to conduct an extensive review of reservation-related data.
Commission to Study OBC Representation Across Districts
The panel has been tasked with carrying out a detailed assessment of OBC population distribution and political representation at the village and district levels.
According to government officials, the commission will examine district-wise demographic data, current reservation arrangements and representation trends in local governance institutions.
Based on its findings, the panel will recommend the structure for OBC reservation in the upcoming panchayat elections.
The state government has clarified that the reservation limit for OBCs will remain within the existing cap of 27 per cent.
Panchayat Poll Process Linked to Commission Report
Sources indicated that the panchayat election process is expected to move forward only after the commission submits its report and the reservation matrix is officially approved.
The findings of the panel are likely to play a decisive role in determining ward-level reservation categories before the election notification is issued.
The formation of the commission was recently approved by the state cabinet led by Yogi Adityanath.
Political Significance Ahead of Rural Elections
Political observers believe the exercise could have major implications in Uttar Pradesh’s rural political landscape, where OBC communities hold significant electoral influence.
The government’s decision is also being seen as an attempt to ensure legal and administrative clarity on reservation before the local body polls are announced.
With the commission now formally constituted, attention is expected to shift toward the timeline for the survey process and the eventual rollout of the new reservation formula.
