The State government, which, under pressure from public services aspirants, announced kickstarting one of the biggest recruitment processes for 56,432 posts with 50% cap on reservation, seems to be now torn between the Dalit groups over the issue of internal reservation. With the government deciding to revert to 15% reservation for the Scheduled Caste, providing internal reservation is likely to become a vexed issue.
The Cabinet on Thursday decided to revert to the 15% quota and the roster points to implement the quota that was in practice before the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or posts in the Services under the State) Act, 2022. The legislation that came into effect in 2023 enhanced reservations to the Scheduled Castes from 15% to 17% and for Scheduled Tribes from 3% to 7%.
It is learnt that the Dalit Left (Madigas) Ministers K.H. Muniyappa and R.B. Thimmapur met internal reservation activists at Madigara Mahasabha on Friday, to allay fears over dropping of internal reservation within the 15% quota. Committing to the internal reservation, the two Ministers are learnt to have told the activists that a meeting of all Dalit Ministers to bring about a consensus on the issue will be held soon to arrive at an acceptable solution. Mr. Muniyappa is learnt to have spoken about the Congress government’s commitment to internal reservation, without which recruitments will not be done. He has told them that legal advice, data, and reports of commissions will be considered before arriving at sub-classification. Mr. Thimmapur has assured that internal reservation will be part of the 15% quota and will be done proportionately.
