No new quota till SC verdict, says Basavaraj Bommai

The Supreme Court has asked the Karnataka government not to implement its decision to scrap 4% quota for Muslims and redistribute the same for Vokkaliggas and Lingayats till May 9, after the state sought time to file its reply in the case. In Dharwad, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai added that his government would not implement the decision until SC completed its hearing in the case.

"We had decided that till the time the hearing is complete we will not take it forward. The court has not stayed reservations, but till the case is settled, we will not implement it," Bommai told reporters in Dharwad. Karnataka goes to polls on May 10. A bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna said the 4% quota to Muslims will continue till May 9, when the matter will be heard next, without any prejudice to the contentions to be raised by the state government.

Appearing for the state government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said at the beginning of Tuesday's hearing that he will be filing the reply later in the day. "I will be filing it today but the problem is I am in personal difficulty as I am arguing before the Constitution bench which is hearing pleas related to same-sex marriage. Kindly put the matter for some other day."


Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Dushyant Dave opposed the request for adjournment and said the hearing has already been deferred four times. Dave requested the court to record the submission of Mehta that impugned orders, scrapping the quota for Muslims will not be implemented and the earlier order of March 30, 2002, granting the quota will hold the field till next date of hearing.

On April 13, the Karnataka government's decision to scrap four per cent Muslim quota ahead of the assembly polls came under the scanner of the Supreme Court, which questioned the government order and said prima facie it appeared to be on a "highly shaky ground" and "flawed".

Taking note of the observations, the Karnataka government had assured the top court that it will put on hold its March 24 orders by which it had given quotas in admission to educational institutions and appointment in government jobs to Vokkaligas and Lingayats, till the next date of hearing.