Karnataka govt proposes inclusion of SC/ST reservation act in 9th Schedule of Constitution

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has submitted a proposal to the Union government for the inclusion of the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation in Posts in Educational Institutions and Appointments or Posts in State Services) Act, 2022 in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.

The move is aimed at increasing reservations in education and employment for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the state.

The Act was enacted to provide reservation of seats in educational institutions and appointments or posts in services under the State for the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Karnataka. ANI reported that Karnataka Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma wrote to Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla to submit the proposal.

As per the act, the percentage of reservations for Scheduled Castes in the state is proposed to be increased from 15 percent to 17 percent and for Scheduled Tribes, the reservation is to be increased from 3 percent to 7 percent. The move comes ahead of the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai expressed his government’s commitment to disadvantaged communities and stated, “The proposal to include the Act on increasing reservation in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution has been submitted to the central government.”

(with ANI inputs)