A file photo of Karnataka High Court judge (retired) H. N. Nagamohan Das.
| Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar
The over-two-decade-long internal reservation issue among the scheduled castes in Karnataka, which has been a demand of the Dalit left communities, has gathered momentum with the Justice H.N. Nagmohan Das Commission expected to submit its interim recommendation next week.
The commission had been set up after the Supreme Court last year allowed the States to provide for internal reservation, and the State Cabinet agreed to implement internal reservation. As a precursor, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired a meeting of cabinet ministers hailing from the scheduled caste communities on March 24 in which the retired judge also took part.
The internal reservation will slice up the 17% reservation matrix given to 101 scheduled castes. The Congress had, in its election manifesto released ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections, promised to implement internal reservation in Karnataka.
The commission has been set up to recommend ways and means of implementing internal reservation while adhering to Supreme Court guidelines and based on empirical data. It has been asked to rely on the 2011 census data to make its recommendation. Till the report is discussed and implemented, fresh notification for recruitment, filling of backlog posts and promotions in government departments have been halted.
“Congress government is committed and is very clear about implementing internal reservation. The committee was set up to recommend internal reservation based on Supreme Court’s directive and on empirical data. In the light of the interim report being expected next week, we held a discussion,” Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahdevappa told reporters in Bengaluru on March 24 after the meeting.
Among those present in the meeting were Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa, Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, Home Minister G. Parameshwar and Excise Minister T.B. Thimmapur.
Dr. Mahadevappa said, “Till the internal reservation is finalised, normal recruitment, backlog recruitment and promotion have been stopped.”
The internal reservation in Karnataka has been a vexed issue for over two decades now with Dalit left communities (Madigas) seeking internal reservation by claiming that the Dalit right communities (Holeyas) have cornered most of the reservation benefits so far.
Earlier, the A.J. Sadashiva Commission had recommended internal reservation in its report in 2012, which had been opposed by the Dalit right communities pointing out anomalies in population data.
Just months away from the Assembly polls in May 2023, the earlier BJP government gave a closure to A.J. Sadashiva Commission report by announcing an internal reservation matrix, which was opposed by various Dalit groups.
Home Minister G. Parameshwar, who was also the chairman of Congress’s manifesto committee, said, “We have had several discussions on the issue in the cabinet. Once the interim report is submitted by the commission, we will hold a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah before deciding on the future course of action.”
Mr. Das has said that he would provide the interim report with empirical data, his opinion and recommendations, he added.
Stating that there was no opposition to internal reservation, Mr. Muniyappa, one of the vocal voices favouring internal reservation, said that, during the meeting, the Ministers had unanimously asked for the interim report based on the Supreme Court guidelines. “We will implement internal reservation at the earliest.”
Another Minister R.B. Thimmapur pointed out that the fact that recruitment had been halted to enable implementation of internal reservation shows the seriousness of the government.
Published – March 24, 2025 04:26 pm IST