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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rs 160 crore down the drain as Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah 2015 caste report
Rs 160 crore down the drain as Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah 2015 caste report (Photo: ANI) BENGALURU: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Thursday said his cabinet has decided to commission a fresh socio-educational survey since the 2015 survey conducted by then Karnataka State Commission for Backwards Classes chairman H Kantharaju had lapsed as it is 10 years old. The CM's remarks come a day after he stood by the 2015 survey, also called the caste census, saying: "We won't reject the report." On Thursday, after a cabinet meeting, he said: "This decision is in accordance with Section 11(2) of Karnataka State Commission for Backwards Classes Act, 1995, which empowers the state government to commission socio-educational surveys once in 10 years." He did not announce the fresh survey's launch date. Thursday's meeting was convened to discuss the 2015 report, which was submitted in February 2024. "We couldn't discuss the report then because of the 2024 general elections," he said. Responding to the criticism, his government scrapped the Kantharaju report, on which it spent Rs 160 crore, owing to the high command's pressure. CM said he obliged all stakeholders, including the high command. The decision for a fresh census was taken after the Congress high command on Wednesday directed CM and his deputy to conduct a fresh enumeration.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Karnataka high court to hear petitions on caste census on April 24
Bengaluru: The Karnataka high court Tuesday said it will hear petitions relating to the caste census report on Thursday. A division bench comprising Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind observed that the state govt is yet to respond to concerns raised by the petitioners. Counsel for the petitioners submitted that their main argument is that a census is a central subject. "The writ was filed in 2015. The caste census was conducted in 2014 under the Backwards Classes Act. Now, the state govt is hurriedly implementing a 10-year-old census," counsel for the petitioner argued. Counsel pointed out that in 2023, the govt released a new quota order which was questioned in the SC. "In this new quota order, some percentages for some OBCs were increased. When this came up before the SC, the state govt gave an undertaking that the earlier regime relating to reservation, notification dated March 30, 2002, will continue to hold till the next date of hearing." Counsel went on to say, "The apprehension is that if the govt accepts this report, it cannot cut into the 2002 quota fixation. But if the cabinet accepts this new report, then the quota will change automatically." However, the bench pointed out that if the govt tinkers with the SC order, it is at their peril. It added that acceptance of the report will not override the SC order. "We will hear the matter the day after. Let us apply our mind," the division bench said. Meanwhile in Mandya, chief minister Siddaramaiah Tuesday said discrepancies — if any — in the socio-economic and educational survey, commonly called the caste census, will be rectified. Responding to questions, Siddaramaiah told reporters that at the previous cabinet meeting, all ministers were advised to give their opinion on the report. "They are yet to give their feedback. Their opinions will be reviewed, and appropriate decisions will be taken at the next cabinet meeting," he said. Responding to BJP's allegations on the report, the CM said the opposition party has "no moral right" to criticise the caste census. He said Jayaprakash Hegde, former Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission chief who compiled the final report, was a member of BJP. "He was appointed by the BJP govt," Siddaramaiah said.
