BENGALURU, 20 AUG

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said the State government, in its Cabinet meeting, accepted Justice HN Nagamohan Das’s recommendations on internal reservation to the Scheduled Castes (SC) with certain modifications, including providing six per cent internal quota to the communities identified by the Commission as 'Left-Hand castes'.

Siddaramaiah told the Assembly that as soon as the internal reservation order is issued, recruitment processes will commence, and a one-time relaxation of the age limit will be provided.

"We have also decided to withdraw cases filed against internal reservation activists," he said. Siddaramaiah said the Cabinet noted that the Commission had grouped ‘Paraya’, ‘Mogera’ and other ‘Right-Hand castes’ among SCs together with the 'Left-Hand castes'.

"We decided to classify these communities with the Right-Hand group and provide them six per cent reservation," he said.

The CM said the government has decided to distribute the six per cent reservation to Adi Karnataka, Adi Andhra and Adi Dravida groups who constitute 4,74,954 population equally between the 'Left-Hand and Right-Hand groups.'

He noted that Justice Nagamohan Das recommended four per cent reservation for the 'Touchables' group and also identified 59 castes with a population of 5,22,099 as Category-A, suggesting one per cent reservation for them. For certain technical reasons, these two groups will be combined and given five per cent reservation.

Siddaramaiah said the Commission had proposed classification into five groups – A, B, C, D and E, but the Cabinet decided to reorganise it into three groups – A, B and C – providing six per cent internal reservation to Group A (Left-Hand castes), six per cent to Group B (Right-Hand castes), and five per cent to Group C, the CM explained.

"These changes have been made to ensure equality and fairness in access to education, employment and other opportunities for all 101 Scheduled Castes. In making this decision, the Cabinet has adhered to the principles outlined in the Supreme Court judgment," he underlined.

The Opposition BJP demanded a discussion on the cabinet decision, but the ruling Congress did not agree to it. The Speaker also did not allow any discussion. Displeased with the decision, the opposition staged a walkout.