Karnataka will review the High Court order striking down the enhanced SC/ST quota. The Cabinet may move the Supreme Court as officials assess effects on admissions and appointments.
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Bengaluru,Oct 13, 2026 13:58 IST
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said the state Cabinet would discuss the High Court verdict striking down the enhanced reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and decide the next course of action, including whether to approach the Supreme Court. He said the government would examine all legally permissible options in consultation with the Advocate General and the Law Department before taking a decision.
The Karnataka High Court on Monday struck down provisions of a 2022 state law that raised reservation for SCs from 15 per cent to 17 per cent and for STs from 3 per cent to 7 per cent, saying the enhanced quota breached the 50 per cent ceiling. The limit was laid down by the Supreme Court in the 1992 Indra Sawhney vs Union of India case and has been upheld in several later rulings.
Parameshwara said, "The previous BJP government headed by Basavaraj Bommai had increased reservation for SCs from 15 per cent to 17 per cent and for STs from 3 per cent to 7 per cent, taking the overall quota to 56 per cent, beyond the 50 per cent ceiling." He said the present government had also followed the revised reservation structure in several recruitment processes after coming to power and had defended the enhanced quota when it was challenged in court.
Stressing the purpose of reservation, he said it was meant to ensure social justice and equal opportunities for communities that had faced historical discrimination and exclusion from education, employment and other areas. B R Ambedkar had incorporated provisions for reservation into the Constitution because of its broader social purpose, he said.
Sharing his personal view on the verdict, Parameshwara said Karnataka's social circumstances could have been considered an exceptional case, referring to Tamil Nadu's 69 per cent reservation, which is protected through a constitutional arrangement. He said the additional six percentage points beyond the 50 per cent ceiling in Karnataka could also have been examined in the context of the state's social conditions and the interests of deprived communities.
He said the government would also assess the impact of the verdict on educational admissions and government appointments already made under the 56 per cent quota. Questions on the status of existing appointments, the retrospective application of the judgment and its effect on future recruitment would need detailed legal examination, he added. He also said that if the overall reservation percentage had to be reduced, the internal reservation percentages might need proportionate revision, which could affect opportunities available to different communities.
Responding to BJP leaders' allegations that the government had been negligent on the issue, Parameshwara said the executive could not influence judicial decisions. "Judges decide matters in accordance with law. The government cannot influence judges or ask them to deliver a particular verdict," he said, adding that challenging the judgment before a higher court was one of the legal options before the state.
Asked about reports that Chief Minister D K Shivakumar was pushed by security personnel during a protest against the Election Commission in Delhi on Monday, Parameshwara said crowd management during demonstrations and large public gatherings was challenging. He said security personnel were mainly responsible for protecting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and preventing people from approaching him. The chief minister had moved towards the area and was slightly pushed in the crowd, he said, adding that security personnel prioritised their assigned protection duties even when other dignitaries were present.
On drought and disaster management, Parameshwara said greater emphasis should be placed on preventive measures and advance preparedness rather than relying mainly on relief and rehabilitation after disasters. He said a national-level seminar had been organised to discuss ways to anticipate risks, improve public awareness and prepare communities to deal with potential disasters. He added that the government and relevant authorities should focus on informing people in advance and taking preventive steps to reduce the impact of disasters.
Parameshwara's remarks covered the High Court order on reservation, its possible legal and administrative implications, the security incident involving Shivakumar in Delhi, and the need for better preparedness in handling drought and other disasters.
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