Karnataka executive scraps 4% OBC Muslim reservation, splits between Vokkaligas and Lingayats

The BJP govt in Karnataka, led by means of CM Basavaraj Bommai, adjusted the SC/ST and OBC reservation ratios in a while earlier than the Meeting elections to bear in mind long-standing requests for upper quotas put forth by means of more than a few communities.   

Bommai, who presided over the overall cupboard of his time period on Friday, abolished the present 4% reservation (2B class) for Muslims beneath the OBC quota and transferred them to the ten% pool for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and higher the quota for Lingayats and Vokkaligas by means of 2% every.

A vital section of the Lingayat inhabitants referred to as the Panchamasali Lingayat have been pushing for a metamorphosis within the reservation class from 3B (5%) to 2A (15%). The Vokkaliga group, which was once granted 4% of the OBC checklist’s 3A class’s reservations, made an an identical call for. Accordingly,  on March 24, the Bommai management added two extra classes to the OBC list- 2A for Vokkaligas and 2D for Lingayats, boosting the entire quota to six% and seven%, respectively.

The Panchamasali Lingayat motion had put the BJP management beneath force because of the Ultimate Courtroom’s 1992 ruling (Indira Sawhney vs Union of India) that set a 50% ceiling on SC, ST, and OBC quota. Additionally, the Panchamasali Lingayats shared the 5% quota with different Veerashaiva-Lingayat subcultures, but even so, Maratha, Jain, Christian, Bunt and Satani caste teams and switching them from 3B to 2A class was once certain to frustrate the 102 castes together with Kuruba, Idiga, Devadiga, Kumbara, Vishwakarma and Tigala which are already reaping the advantages beneath 2A.

“The Muslims had been shifted from 2A to EWS quota as there’s no Constitutional provision for reservation for non secular minorities. As according to Dr Ambedkar too reservation is for the caste on my own. Then again, my govt has made up our minds to transport the minorities to EWS as each the outdated and new classes have the industrial criterion,” stated Bommai whilst briefing the media after the cupboard assembly. He additionally higher the reservation quota from 50 according to cent to 56 according to cent.

All the way through the iciness consultation in Belagavi in December of closing 12 months, the Karnataka legislature enacted the “Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Tutorial Establishments and of Appointments or Posts within the Products and services Beneath the State) Invoice, 2022” to extend the reservation for SCs from 15% to 17% and for STs from 3% to 7%.

Bommai additional stated that the SC group have been cut up into 4 divisions, bringing up Article 341(2) of the Charter.

“A number of the untouchables, the SC (Left) – Madiga, Adi Dravida and Bambi will now get 6 according to cent reservation and SC (Proper) which incorporates Adi Karnataka Holeya and Chalavadi gets 5.5 according to cent. A number of the touchables, the Banjara, Bhovi, Koracha and Korama gets 4.5 according to cent and Are Alemari and Alemari (nomads) gets the remainder one %,” defined Bommai.

Significantly, on October 8, 2022, the state cupboard had formally authorized elevating the SC/ST quota according to a suggestion by means of Pass judgement on H.N. Nagamohan Das. Additionally, an ordinance was once additionally authorized. Then again, the BJP management wrote to the Middle requesting a constitutional alternate on March 23. By contrast to the Ultimate Courtroom’s 50% cap, the amended coverage has higher the proportion of reservations in Karnataka to 56% – SC 17%, ST 7%, and OBC 32%.

In the meantime, CLP chief Siddaramaiah criticized the BJP for getting rid of the 2A class (which had a 4% quota for Muslims) and allocating it to the Lingayats and Vokkaligas. “It’s an effort to reproduce animosity between the communities,” he stated.