Karnataka clears revised internal reservation for Scheduled Castes within 15% quota

Karnataka clears the internal Scheduled Castes quota split within 15% reservation, enabling recruitment of over 56,000 posts, as Siddaramaiah calls it a 35-year struggle resolved within constitutional limits.

In Short

• Cabinet split the 15 per cent SC quota into three categories
• Fresh notifications will replace earlier recruitment notices stalled by court scrutiny
• A Supreme Court ruling enabled internal categorisation within Scheduled Castes

In a politically significant move with immediate electoral and social implications, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday announced a revised internal reservation formula for Scheduled Castes (SC) within the existing 15 per cent quota, unlocking long-pending government recruitment.

The decision, cleared at a special Cabinet meeting, distributes the quota into three categories — 5.25 per cent each for “left-hand” and “right-hand” groups, and 4.5 per cent for other Scheduled Castes, including nomadic communities.

“Finally, the Cabinet unanimously decided on 5.25 per cent, 5.25 per cent, and 4.5 per cent allocations,” Siddaramaiah said, underlining that the formula was based on proportional representation.

More importantly, the Chief Minister made it clear that the impact would be immediate. “From tomorrow onwards, the recruitment process will begin with the issuance of notifications,” he said, signalling relief for thousands of job aspirants amid mounting protests across the state.

A MOVE ROOTED IN LAW AND POLITICS

The decision comes after years of agitation — a 35-year-long demand for internal reservation within Scheduled Castes — and follows recent legal clarity. Siddaramaiah cited the constitutional ceiling on reservations, rooted in the landmark Indra Sawhney vs Union of India judgment, which caps total reservations at 50 per cent.

“Based on the 50 per cent ceiling, SC reservation comes to 15 per cent and ST to 3 per cent,” he said, explaining why the earlier proposal of 17 per cent had to be scaled down.

The Chief Minister also pointed to a recent Supreme Court ruling that permitted internal categorisation within Scheduled Castes, giving the government the legal backing to proceed.

The Cabinet decision comes against the backdrop of sustained protests by students and job seekers, particularly in regions like Dharwad, where recruitment delays triggered widespread unrest.

The government had earlier faced a setback when the Karnataka High Court stalled recruitment linked to a higher quota structure. That impasse forced a recalibration.

“This is an honest attempt to address a 35-year struggle,” Siddaramaiah said, framing the move as both corrective and inclusive.

WHAT CHANGES NOW

The government will withdraw earlier recruitment notifications issued without internal reservation and replace them with fresh ones incorporating the revised structure.

A 400-point roster system will be used to implement the quota, and within Category C, 20 per cent of posts will be reserved for 59 nomadic castes.

Additionally, over 56,000 posts already cleared by the Finance Department are expected to be filled under the new framework.

A commission headed by retired judge H N Nagamohan Das had subsequently submitted a report, which formed the basis for the government's decision. The Chief Minister said the earlier notification based on the 6-6-5 formula would be withdrawn and replaced with a fresh notification reflecting the revised structure.

“The six per cent kept aside will remain as a backlog until the final court decision,” the Chief Minister added, indicating that some aspects remain subject to judicial review.

POLITICAL SIGNAL AHEAD OF ELECTIONS

The move is being seen as a major political signal ahead of upcoming electoral battles. By addressing long-standing grievances within SC communities, the Congress government is attempting to consolidate its social justice plank.

Flanked by senior Dalit ministers, Siddaramaiah emphasised that the decision was unanimous. “The entire Cabinet accepted this categorisation without any dissent,” he said, naming ministers including K H Muniyappa, Dr G Parameshwara, Mahadevappa, Priyank Kharge, and Satish Jarkiholi.

For now, the government has acted within legal limits — but the final shape of the policy will still depend on court rulings. Until then, recruitment and admissions will proceed under the revised quota structure.

- Ends