Bengaluru: Under immense pressure from Left sect Scheduled Caste (SC) communities and two of its own ministers, the Siddaramaiah govt has decided to revisit its earlier decision to fill 56,432 govt posts without internal reservation. The cabinet is expected to deliberate on introducing pro rata internal reservation within the existing 15% SC quota at a meeting Thursday. The move comes days after governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot granted assent to the Karnataka Scheduled Castes Sub-Classification Bill 2025, which provides for internal quotas among SC communities. The bill, passed in Dec last year, proposes to enhance overall reservation for SCs from 15% to 17% and divide it among 101 SC communities. Gehlot’s assent came following huge protests in Dharwad by job aspirants who demanded the govt fill nearly 2.5 lakh vacancies across departments. Recruitment has largely been frozen since Oct 2024 to facilitate implementation of the internal quota system. Under the 17% structure in the bill signed by Gehlot, the Left sect (16 communities) would get 6% under Category A, the Right sect (19 communities) 6% under Category B, and 63 communities 5% under Category C. Those under Adi Andhra, Adi Dravida and Adi Karnataka groups can opt for reservation under Category A or B. But this matrix breaches the overall 50% ceiling on total reservation decreed by the Supreme Court, and a case disputing it is pending in court. The govt, therefore, issued a notification to fill 56,432 posts under the existing 15% SC quota without internal reservation, clarifying that the enhanced 17% quota would be implemented in recruitments only after a decision by the court. This triggered sharp reactions from stakeholders. Some ministers from the Left sect reportedly threatened to quit if positions are filled without internal reservation. Chief minister Siddaramaiah is learnt to have pacified them and asked them to wait for the cabinet’s decision. On Tuesday, food and civil supplies minister KH Muniyappa and excise minister RB Timmapur, both from Left sect, held a press conference and said Thursday’s cabinet decision would determine their future course. They said the decision to revert to the 15% structure followed protests by general category job aspirants in Dharwad. “However, we made it quite clear that the 15% SC quota needs to have internal reservation,” the ministers said, distancing themselves from the govt order. “The cabinet will decide on a proportional internal reservation for 15% quota until the courts decide on the enhanced 17% quota under the new Karnataka Scheduled Castes Sub-Classification Bill 2025. We urge our communities to be patient.” Timmapur indicated that under the 15% structure, Left and Right sects may get 5 each, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities 1%, and touchable communities 4%. Meanwhile, the Madiga Dandora Samiti has called for a statewide protest on Friday and a day-night agitation from March 12 if internal reservation is not granted. “We will not be bogged down by setbacks created by uncertainties within the govt. This time we are committed to getting our rights as the Supreme Court and the law is in our favour,” said Ambanna Arolikar, a samiti member.
