Karnataka to explore legal options to challenge High Court verdict striking down reservation enhancement

Following the Karnataka High Court striking down the enhancement of reservation for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities in the State, Congress leaders said the government is exploring legal options to challenge the order and safeguard ongoing recruitment and education admissions. The leaders have also questioned the Central government’s reluctance to include the law in the Ninth Schedule.

Cabinet to discuss

Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said the High Court verdict relating to the enhancement of reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be discussed comprehensively by the Cabinet, following which a decision will be taken on the future course of action, including the possibility of filing an appeal in the Supreme Court. 

Speaking to media representatives, he said that if a situation arises in which the overall reservation percentage has to be reduced, the percentages under internal reservation may also have to be revised proportionately. While mathematically, such a revision may not be difficult, the more serious concern is that it could reduce the opportunities available to different communities, he said. 

Abrupt implementation

In a statement issued following the Karnataka High Court judgment that struck down the increase in reservation — from 15% to 17% for SCs, and from 3% to 7% for STs – the Deputy Chief Minister stated that the ‘verdict highlights the irresponsibility of the previous BJP government and the persistent neglect of the BJP-led Central Government’.

“Why did the previous BJP government abruptly implement the reservation increase law just before the 2023 Assembly elections without laying a proper Constitutional foundation? Back in October 2022 itself, the then BJP government was fully aware that increasing the SC/ST reservation would raise Karnataka’s total reservation quota to 56%, thereby breaching the prevailing 50% ceiling,” he said. 

Pointing to the Central Government’s reply in Parliament on July 25, 2026, stating that the proposal to include Karnataka’s reservation Act in the Ninth Schedule was deferred because the matter was sub-judice, the Deputy CM termed it unacceptable.  

Exceptional circumstances

Expressing his personal view on the High Court verdict striking down the enhancement, Mr. Parameshwara said that Karnataka’s circumstances could have been examined as an exceptional case. 

“Tamil Nadu has been provided 69% reservation through a Constitutional amendment. When such an arrangement has been made there, the additional 6% reservation beyond the 50% ceiling in Karnataka could also have been examined as a special case in light of its social circumstances,” he said. 

‘Explain constitutional solution’

Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah too questioned the BJP’s move to announce enhanced reservation without first ensuring its constitutional sustainability.   

“The BJP-led Union Government subsequently deferred Karnataka’s request for inclusion in the Ninth Schedule, citing pending litigation. It must now explain what constitutional solution it proposes,” he said. 

Mr. Siddaramaiah noted that the Justice Nagamohan Das Committee, constituted during the Congress government, had provided the foundation for enhancing reservation. 

Calling on the Karnataka government to pursue appropriate legal remedies to safeguard enhanced reservation, and protect affected students and job aspirants, he demanded that the Union Government review the 50% ceiling, facilitate a constitutionally sustainable framework for population-informed reservation, and reconsider Karnataka’s Ninth Schedule proposal.