Bengaluru: A long-pending plan to introduce internal reservation within Scheduled Castes (SC) quota remains stalled for over four decades, with successive govts wary of backlash from competing SC ‘Left’ and ‘Right’ groups. The demand, going back to the 1980s, has largely come from SC ‘Left’ communities, including Madigas, who argue reservation benefits have accrued disproportionately to relatively advanced groups such as Holeyas, often called SC ‘Right’. Implementation has been repeatedly delayed on legal and political grounds. M Gurumurthy, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) state convener said, “Despite many studies, no govt has shown the will to implement it, though all have made tall promises.” The issue resurfaced after a special cabinet meeting last week was deferred to April due to the model code of conduct for April 9 bypolls. The agenda was to divide the previous 15% SC quota among 101 sub-castes to ensure equitable access to jobs and education. The demand gained momentum during SM Krishna’s (1999–2004) tenure as chief minister, with organisations such as the DSS pressing for proportional allocation. In 2005, the Cong-JD(S) govt led by Dharam Singh constituted the AJ Sadashiva Commission. Its 2012 report, submitted during the tenure of BJP chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda, assessed disparities among SC sub-castes but was not implemented. The BJP govt led by Basavaraj Bommai attempted to take implementation forward ahead of the 2023 assembly polls, by increasing reservation to 17%. This took overall reservation above the Supreme Court cap of 50% and cases were filed in courts. When the Supreme Court upheld states’ power to create sub-categories within the SC quota in Aug 2024, the current govt examined fresh data, including inputs from the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission. A tentative formula proposed splitting the 17% quota into three parts — 6% each for two major groups and 5% for others — but this triggered divisions within communities and the cabinet. The govt attempted to give the matrix legal backing by passing The Karnataka Scheduled Castes (Sub-classification) Bill, 2025, but the high court stayed its implementation in recruitment in Oct 2025. Protests have intensified, with smaller and nomadic SC groups raising concerns over exclusion. Jagadguru Immadi Siddarameshwara Swami of the Bhovi Gurupeeta said several communities risk being sidelined and called for an expert panel representing all 101 sub-castes. Representatives have also flagged the roster system in govt hiring, warning that post-wise allocation could result in all vacancies in a cycle going to a single sub-category. In Feb, the govt decided to fill over 56,000 posts and issued an order to follow the earlier SC quota (15%) framework pending judicial clarity, but this drew protests from SC ‘Left’ groups. Demonstrations in Dharwad and a recent one in Kalaburagi by unemployed youths have added to the pressure. “Any move is likely to trigger a backlash from one side or the other, which could impact the 2028 assembly polls,” said Vishwas Shetty, political commentator. “That is why decisions have been delayed.”
