The Andhra Pradesh Backward Classes Commission headed by Justice Putta Swamy, which was appointed four years ago to look into the issue, has been flooded with so many petitions that it has become a formidable task to sift through the data and arrive at a conclusion. The panel's report is expected to be ready only by the middle of next year but it would take at least another year for the necessary follow-up action.

Interestingly, the commission received petitions even from Brahmins, Vysyas, Reddys, Kshatriyas, Rajputs and Velamas, who are traditionally considered to be the upper castes in the state, seeking to be treated as OBCs.During its tours to various districts, the commission receivedmemoranda from all sects of Brahmins including Vydiki, Niyogi and Sri Vaishnavas and different groups of Reddys such as Gudati, Matati and Oruganti and dominant Velama sub-castes like Koppula Velama.

The process of making additions to the OBC list started during the previous Congress government with the then chief minister K Vijayabhaskara Reddy announcing inclusion of 14 castes including Kapus and Muslims in the list of OBCs. When the AP High Court struck down the government's decision, the Putta Swamy commission was constituted. Apart from the 14 castes, 93 castes made fresh pleas to include them in the list, while 33 more BC communities sought a change in status.

Ninety three castes were identified as OBCs in the State since September 1970 while the Central government added 199 castes in 1990 on the basis of the Mandal Commission report. However, the Centre later stuck to the list followed by the State.

Knowing well that changing the list would amount to opening a Pandora's Box, the commission hasdecided not to submit an interim report, despite a request from the government. ``We will present a final report as early as possible,'' Justice Putta Swamy told The Indian Express.