The Telangana Act of 2014, also known as the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014, was approved by the legislature to divide the State of Andhra Pradesh into Telangana and the remaining portion of the State. The President gave his approval on March 1, 2014. A previous draft introduced in 2013 got refused by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. This Act created a new state named Telangana with ten districts.
The Central Government (CG), led by the United Progressive Alliance, eventually decided to partition Andhra Pradesh into Telangana.
Students and government workers protested nonstop in 1969, raising the demand for Telangana, but it was quickly put down. After the Telugu Desam Party’s ascent, the call for Telangana attracted media attention, and Telugu Desam Party backed the call for Telangana to become a separate state in October 2008.
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Historical background of the Act:
Telangana Movement was a movement that advocated for the creation of a separate state of Telangana. It has a lengthy backstory which includes Telangana as a Telugu-speaking province of the princely State of Hyderabad.
It serves as a crossroads for mainland rivers, including the Krishna and Godavari and is located on the Deccan plateau. For many centuries, these rivers were at the heart of several empires. In the 18th century, Muslim invaders established the princely State of Hyderabad; also, during British rule, Britishers amalgamated and effectively conquered the princely State of Hyderabad by subordinate agreement.
Telangana never belonged to the British Empire. When India gained independence, the princely State of Hyderabad, ruled by the Nizam, was integrated inside The document of accession to establish Indian territory. Meanwhile, the Telugu speakers zone got separated from Madras State.
The States Reorganisation Committee was formed in 1953 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Prime Minister of India, to detach Telangana and convert it into a new state, Nehru was forced to abandon his plan following the ruthless revolutionary action in Hyderabad.
The demand for Telangana revived in 1969, with regular protests by students and government personnel. Following the advent of the Telugu Desam Party, the need for Telangana resurfaced in the media. Telugu Desam Party endorsed the proposal for a separate state of Telangana in October 2008.
Overview of the bill:
The Union cabinet established the Committee of ministers headed by SK Shinde in 2013 to assess the situation of Andhra Pradesh and determine the ideal circumstances for the State’s division.
P. Chidambaram and Ghulam Nabi Azad, the corresponding health and finance ministers at the time, were members of this Committee. The Committee also considered the opinions of Shri Krishna’s Committee based on an examination and consultation of the circumstances in Andhra Pradesh.
On February 18, 2014, the Lok Sabha approved the Telangana Bill. It was referred to by the opposition leaders as the “Black Day” for the Indian Parliament. The Rajya approved it but afterwards denied it; as a result, it got disapproved by a unanimous vote.
As per Art. 214 of the Indian Constitution, there will be a shared High Court for both vassal States based on a demographic ratio. They will split expenses between them until the new court establishes the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh. The Union Public Service Commission would act as the Public Service Commission for the newly constituted State of Telangana following gaining President’s consent to replace the Public Service Commission that currently exists for the remainder of Andhra Pradesh.
For the operation and administration of dams, rivers, and reservoirs, the board would get divided into separate Krishna River Management Board and Godavari River Management Boards following the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill. These Boards will technically determine and approve any new projects and dams built on the rivers, and the two successor states will share River water between them.
Salient features of the Act:
- The Telangana Act of 2014, also known as the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill of 2014, has 108 Sections divided into twelve sections and thirteen Schedules. In the legislative bodies of both successor states, the Governor will designate one representative for the Anglo-Indian population.
- All the districts that will no longer be part of Telangana will make up the State of Andhra Pradesh, except those included in the Schedule.
- Telangana was on the list as number 29, previously state number 28, when the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act went into effect. There will be 11 members in the Andhra Pradesh people’s house and 17 in the State’s Council of State.
- The people’s houses and the state council once had 18 and 25 members, respectively, as per the Fourth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
- The legislative assembly in Telangana will have 119 members, while the legislative house in Andhra Pradesh will have 175 seats.
- As per Art. 333 of the Indian Constitution, the Governor, has proposed to the legislative assembly one person from each succeeding State to represent the Anglo-Indian population in India.
- Under Section 15 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 and Article 170 of the Indian Constitution, the number of legislative assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has grown from 119 to 153 and 175 225, respectively.
- Legislative councils will be established for both the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh under Article 169 of the Indian Constitution. The legislative council will have 40 and 50 total members, respectively.
- Any attorney admitted to practise before the designated date in the High Court of Hyderabad may change his name from the High Court of Hyderabad to the High Court of Telangana.
- The Act will divide money based on population ratios, other considerations, and other financial-related features between the two successor states. The Thirteenth Financial Commission made notice of this. The President of India stated in the fourteenth finance commission of India that the Act must provide distinct rewards for the two successor states.
- For the 10-year transitional phase, both successor governments will continue using similar admissions processes. It shall give equal chances to students from both states and will not accept discrimination against students from either State. Admission quota will apply to private and public institutions, aided or unassisted.
Conclusion:
Here is a summary of the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act’s background, goals, and objectives. This Act gave rise to the 29th Indian State, a completely new state. Due to this measure, the Act modified the Indian Constitution’s many Schedules and Articles. The future will determine if the Act is improved and how the newly created State of Telangana is doing.
FAQs
When was Andhra Pradesh formed?
Andhra Pradesh became a state on November 1, 1956. The State of Hyderabad got divided by the States Reorganization Act of 1956.
What precisely is the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act?
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, popularly called the Telangana Act, is an Act of the Indian Parliament that, as a result of the Telangana movement, separated the State of Andhra Pradesh into Telangana and the remaining Andhra Pradesh state.
How many parts are there in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014?
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 has 108 sections, 12 Parts, and 13 Schedules.
When was the bill for the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 introduced?
The bill for the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 was presented on December 5, 2013, during the first day of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly's winter session Legislative Assembly.
When was Telangana established under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014?
Telangana was officially established on June 2, 2014, following the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014. After the Andhra Pradesh 2014 General Elections, Sri K Chandrashekar Rao swore as Telangana's first Chief Minister.
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