Karnataka Cabinet to decide on appeal against High Court ruling on SC/ST quota

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet will examine the High Court’s verdict, which struck down the state’s increased quota for SC/STs in college admissions and recruitments before deciding whether to challenge it in the Supreme Court, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said on Tuesday.

A division bench of the Karnataka High Court on Monday quashed provisions of the Karnataka SC/ST (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Act, 2022. The law raised SC reservation from 15% to 17% and ST reservation from 3% to 7%, taking the state’s total reservation to 56%.

Parameshwara said the previous BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai introduced the increase, which the Congress government continued to follow in recruitments. The Cabinet will examine whether to appeal against the verdict or pursue other legal options within the constitutional framework.


Read more: Karnataka HC strikes down enhanced SC/ST quota provisions, cites 50% ceiling

He also said the government would assess the ruling’s implications for educational admissions and government recruitments already completed under the 56% reservation structure.

Citing Tamil Nadu’s 69% reservation, protected through inclusion in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, Parameshwara said Karnataka’s additional reservation could also have been examined in the context of the state’s social circumstances.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy said reservation must comply with the Supreme Court’s 50% ceiling, questioning the legal basis of Karnataka’s enhanced quota.

Read more: Supreme Court gives landmark verdict on SC, ST quota: What is it all about?

Congress Working Committee member Siddaramaiah urged the Centre to reconsider the 50% ceiling and facilitate a constitutionally sustainable framework for reservation based on population.

He also called for reconsideration of Karnataka’s proposal to include its reservation law in the Ninth Schedule, which provides protection from certain legal challenges, subject to constitutional limitations and judicial review.