Karnataka govt wants to increase caste-based reservation to 70%

Days after BJP’s OBC rally was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in the legislative assembly that efforts to increase caste-based reservation up to 70% will be initiated. 

Increasing reservation in education and employment from the current 50% to 70% will make the reservation quota in Karnataka 1% more than that of its neighbouring state Tamil Nadu, CM said on Tuesday. 

The report of the socio-economic and educational census, conducted by the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission is expected to be submitted to the state government by December or January, post which the process of increasing the quota will begin. 

“If Karnataka has to increase the reservation, which is 50% now, someone has to move a resolution in the legislature. I will take this initiative and move the resolution which has to be then Constitutionally amended in Parliament as the apex court has put a cap of 50% on reservation,“ the CM said in response to a calling attention notice by Congress' V S Ugrappa. 

Saying that he had proposed the caste survey in 2004 during his tenure as the state’s deputy CM, he added that his subsequent dismissal had stalled the process. 

The caste survey report will ensure proportionate reservation to communities based on their population size. The move was in response to the Supreme Court asking what the basis of deciding quantum of reservation to different communities was.

The proposal is likely to come up in the next legislative session. 

“Since the amendment needed the approval of the Union government, I urge the Opposition BJP to take up the matter with the Centre,” CM said.