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New Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Lower-level government staff given creamy layer exemption across Karnataka
BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has issued a circular giving exemption from creamy layer to candidates in government service at lower-level posts. Interestingly, the Backward Classes Commission in its recommendations based on Socio Economic and Educational Survey (SES-2015) had recommended applying the creamy layer to the OBCs which was also a subject in the Friday's agenda of the cabinet. But the circular was issued a day earlier, on Thursday, to give direct recruitment under Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution, if the candidates belonging to Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3 B category, if they have stipulated-specified period of experience in the posts at the lower level, in such a case the creamy layer rule will not apply to them, the Backward Classes Department clarified in a circular issued on May 8. Therefore, in order to exempt the candidates belonging to these categories in the service, check the relevant documents and take action to issue caste certificates, it instructed the tahsildars. The decision helps the children of government employees at lower level posts to avail quota benefits for education and employment. There was an exemption of creamy layer for SC/ST and category I candidates in the past and the government has now extended the same to the OBCs. The income limit for determining the creamy layer status for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Karnataka is Rs 8 lakh per annum. If a person's annual income is above this threshold, they are not eligible for OBC reservations in employment or education.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Govt. mulls over placing caste census report before local bodies for a month to ratify numbers
The State government is considering holding wider consultations on the Socio Economic and Educational Survey (popularly called caste census) report by putting up the findings and recommendations before the urban and rural local bodies for about a month and get the numbers ratified. 'During this period, the government is planning to receive objections and feedback on the findings of the survey. Based on the feedback, the survey recommendation could be placed before the legislature for discussion,' government sources said. Some Ministers, according to the sources, are of the opinion that Karnataka should await the outcome of the caste census announced as part of the general census by the Union government, expected to start in 2026. 'The opinion is that justice cannot be served to all communities with the Karnataka data that is 10 years old. Apprehension has been expressed about the possible gap between the 2015 survey data and the data that would be captured during the general census. If there are huge discrepancies in the data, it could be held against the Congress government during elections,' the sources said. Pushed to next Cabinet meeting Meanwhile, the Cabinet decided in greater detail the caste census report, submitted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, during the next Cabinet after providing additional information to the Ministers. While it is learnt that about a dozen Cabinet Ministers have given their opinion in writing on the survey recommendation, as sought by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, additional volumes of the survey report, including the taluk wise and district wise population data have been provided to the Ministers, who have been asked to come prepared for the next Cabinet meeting. 'The discussion on the issue remained inconclusive,' Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil told pressperspons during his post-Cabinet briefing on Friday night. He said that during the discussion several opinions were received, but the Chief Minister was expecting to gather more opinion on the subject. Compiled a decade ago The caste survey data was compiled in 2015 during the commission headed by H. Kantharaj, and the survey report and recommendation was submitted to the government by the commission headed by K. Jayaprakash Hegde in February 2024.
New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
With caste conundrum on backburner, Siddaramaiah likely to focus on admin
BENGALURU: Contentious caste issues have come in handy for Siddaramaiah to consolidate his position both as Chief Minister and a champion of AHINDA communities. The tabling of the Socio Economic and Educational Survey (SES-2015) report and the recommendation of the Backward Classes Commission to restructure the Backward Classes quota in the cabinet for discussion and commitment to implement the internal reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs), were aimed at benefiting the AHINDA communities. With the backing of Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader and LoP in Lok Sabha, to table SES-2015 and the Supreme Court's Aug.1, 2024, judgment allowing the states to implement the internal quota for the SCs, the CM was poised to strengthen his position. A section of castes within the SC category were opposing the internal quota for decades but Siddaramaiah sensed his opportunity with the apex court's judgment, according to political analysts. Even as the two dominant castes, Veerashaiva Lingayats and Vokkaligas, opposed the SES-2015 dubbing it as unscientific, the Centre's announcement of adding enumeration of caste as part of the national census is likely to dampen the is unlikely to disturb Siddaramaiah from his position, said a Congress legislator belonging to SC community. But other sources within Congress predict that once Siddaramaiah completed two-and-half years as CM in October, the issue of change of guard would resurface. The decision, however, would be in the hands of Rahul and AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge, also hailing from Karnataka.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Its own caste survey in hand, Congress in Karnataka to test BJP with demand to lift quota ceiling
Following on the lines of Bihar, Telangana, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh – which have enacted laws to increase the reservations for Backward Classes, Dalits and tribals above the 50% limit prescribed by the Supreme Court – Karnataka may also enact a law and ask the Centre to protect it from judicial review. The Congress leadership in Karnataka has dropped hints that it would pursue the political strategy of pushing the BJP at the Centre to increase the reservations in government jobs and education above the 50% mark – in the wake of the Modi government's announcement of enumerating castes in the next population Census. 'The ceiling of 50% reservation should be removed. Reservations should be in line with the population of Dalits, Backward Classes, minorities and tribes. There should be a study of their socioeconomic and educational status, and reservations should be provided,' Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Thursday, adding that the ceiling of 50% imposed by the Supreme Court in 1992 in the Indra Sahwney case had 'no scientific basis'. 'The 50% ceiling on reservation has lost its relevance after 10% reservation was provided to the Economically Weaker Section (in 2019). In Tamil Nadu, there is a 69% reservation law. It is protected under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. Jharkhand has raised it to 77%… Even the Central government has hiked the quotas by 10% (for EWS) and it has been upheld by the Supreme Court,' Siddaramaiah added. The government in Karnataka, where a 2015 Socio Economic and Educational Survey enumerating caste was submitted to the government last year by the Karnataka State Commission For Backward Classes (KSCBC), is likely to enact a law to increase reservations in the state above the 50% limit based on the recommendations of the report that was unveiled in April. Existing reservations based on population The Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet has been dallying over the report since receiving it on April 11 and a Cabinet meeting scheduled on May 2 to consider the report in detail now stands postponed to May 9. Based on the Socio Economic and Educational Survey, the KSCBC recommended increasing reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state from 32% to 51% – taking the overall reservation for backward communities to 69%, including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at a combined 18%, and the total reservations to 79% (with 10% for the EWS). The passage of a law to implement the report's recommendations has, in fact, become easier since the Centre's proposal for a caste enumeration in the next Census is expected to lower the resistance from the state's opposition BJP and Janata Dal (Secular), allowing discussions in the state legislature. 'The Congress strategy is to welcome the announcement of the caste count. We do not know the seriousness of the BJP since it has always opposed a caste census. The Census could take over two years for completion. Our plan is to move ahead on the basis of our agenda, as done in other states,' a senior Congress leader said. Opposition INDIA bloc-led governments have enacted laws in Telangana and Jharkhand on the basis of caste surveys to hike reservations to 70% and 77% respectively, including EWS. The Janata Dal (United)-led government in Bihar has hiked reservations to 75%, with EWS. Recommended reservations based on state survey The Congress is seen as likely to test the BJP's commitment to a social justice agenda by seeking inclusion of any law passed for the increase in reservations under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution – through an amendment passed by Parliament. When the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services Under the State) Act, 1993, was passed by the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK government – to increase quotas to 69% – the AIADMK had campaigned in Delhi for inclusion of the Act under the Ninth Schedule and the Congress government led by then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao had agreed eventually. The move was challenged in the Supreme Court but no conclusion has been reached in 30 years. 'Since the M R Balaji vs State of Mysore case of 1963 – when 69% reservations were provided in Karnataka (erstwhile Mysore) – on the basis of the Naganagouda Commission report, the courts have been asking for scientific data to determine social and educational backwardness. The recent caste survey has gathered the data,' a senior Congress leader said.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
AHINDA groups urge Rahul Gandhi to rein in Congress MLAs opposing caste census report in Karnataka
AHINDA groups have launched a campaign of writing letters to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urging him to caution party legislators in Karnataka from opposing implementation of the report of the Socio Economic and Educational Survey, popularly called 'caste census'. The survey was conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes. Under the aegis of Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum, the AHINDA groups have sent letters to Mr. Gandhi, who is also Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, through e-mail and post cards as part of the campaign, seeking his intervention in the matter. In its letter to Mr. Gandhi, the forum pointed out that the primary objective of the survey was to understand the socio-economic and educational condition of all communities through statistical data to ensure social justice for all. The survey, which was conducted scientifically at a cost of approximately ₹180 crore, reflecting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's social commitment and concern for the oppressed sections, has been presented and discussed in the Cabinet. 'However, it is deeply saddening that senior Congress MLAs, such as Shamanur Shivashankarappa and a few others, are opposing this report. Moreover, these MLAs and some leaders have made extremely derogatory statements about the report and AHINDA (an acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits),' the letter states. 'They are demanding that the report be discarded entirely, causing great distress among all the AHINDA sections,' the forum pointed out. The report consolidates statistical data not only on the population, but also on the social, economic and educational status of AHINDA communities, the letter states while adding that the caste census report has recommended categorisation of reservation while also increasing reservation for various sections. 'Based on the statistics in this report, the government will be able to provide political, social and educational representation to the AHINDA communities. However, it is truly unfortunate that some Congress MLAs are opposing this,' the letter states. Pointing out that AHINDA communities are the backbone of the Congress party support base, the letter reminds Mr. Gandhi that the party, in its manifesto, promised to implement the caste census across India. 'In this light, the AHINDA communities believe the Congress party will uphold the banner of social justice'. The forum has taken exception to the 'highly inappropriate' actions of a few senior party MLAs, who were going 'against this belief'. Contending that the behaviour of these Congress leaders in Karnataka is causing grave injustice to AHINDA communities, the letter warned that the party may face anger and backlash from these communities if implementation of the report is delayed or hindered. 'Hence, we appeal through this letter campaign that you kindly direct Congress MLAs and leaders in Karnataka to make room for implementation of the report, and correct minor flaws, if any,' the letter states. The forum's president K. S. Shivaram is among those who have written to Mr. Gandhi.
