Belagavi, Dec. 21: The Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or posts in the services under the state) Bill, 2022, will replace an Ordinance with the same title. The Bill, set to increase the reservation for SC/ST candidates, was tabled in the Legislative Assembly today, December 20.
The to-be-replaced Ordinance, promulgated on October 23, had increased reservations for SC candidates from 15 to 17 per cent and for ST candidates from 3 to 7 per cent. The State Cabinet on October 8 had accorded its formal approval to increase the SC/ST quota, and this decision was taken according to the recommendation from a commission headed by a retired judge of Karnataka High Court, Justice HN Nagamohan Das.
“As the matter was urgent and both Houses of the State Legislature were not in session, the Ordinance was promulgated vide notification dated October 23 to achieve the objective, and all provisions of the Ordinance were brought into force with effect from November 1. The Bill seeks to replace the said Ordinance,” the Bill states.
However, the decision to hike the reservation is yet to be ring-fenced under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, as it takes the reservation tally in Karnataka to 56 per cent, breaching the 50 per cent ceiling fixed by the Supreme Court in the 1992 Indra Sawhney case. Thus, the Opposition has been skeptical about it and questioning the government on its implementation.
Earlier today, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah petitioned Speaker Vishveshwar Hegde Kageri for an adjournment motion to discuss the reservation hike issue on priority in the Assembly, alleging that the government’s move was politically motivated and has no real concern for the oppressed sections. He added that the matter needs to be seriously discussed in detail, as it includes constitutional and legal aspects.
