State to conduct a contemporary survey for SC sub-quota

Regulation and Parliamentary affairs minister H.Okay. Patil, addressing reporters after the cupboard assembly on Thursday, mentioned, “the H.N. Nagamohan Das Fee has made 4 suggestions that embrace a contemporary survey, the usage of fashionable applied sciences to finish the survey inside 30 to 40 days, preparation of a questionnaire, and the gathering of knowledge on scheduled castes and their sub-castes for classification functions.” He additional confirmed that the cupboard had accepted the suggestions and agreed to increase the fee’s tenure so it might oversee the method and supply additional steering.

The survey seeks to resolve confusion surrounding the nomenclature of sub-castes reminiscent of Adi Karnataka, Adi Dravida, and Adi Andhra, which have been traditionally coined to counter caste-based discrimination. Dalit activists have identified that these names, which originated through the rule of the Mysuru Maharajas, proceed to create ambiguity in caste classification throughout totally different areas.

Schedule caste communities are categorised as “left-hand” and “right-hand” in Karnataka, with ‘left-hand’ communities being among the many most marginalised traditionally, whereas ‘right-hand’ communities had comparatively extra privileges.

Social welfare minister H.C. Mahadevappa famous that the survey work had already commenced and that the chief secretary had convened a gathering of officers to finalise the modalities. “The survey shall be performed by the federal government equipment, together with the companies of lecturers. Preparatory work might take about 15 days,” he defined.

The federal government has set a two-month deadline for the fee to finish the method, ranging from March 27.

The demand for inside reservation has been a contentious concern for almost 4 many years. The Dalit Left faction has argued that Dalit Proper communities have disproportionately benefited from the prevailing 17% SC reservation in training and employment. Varied sub-communities, together with Lambanis, Bhovis, Koracha, and Koramas, have voiced considerations over inequitable illustration.

The matter gained authorized momentum after the Supreme Courtroom dominated on August 1, 2024, that states have the authority to implement inside reservations amongst SCs. This offered Karnataka with the authorized basis to proceed with reforms.

Whereas submitting his interim report, Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das kept away from revealing its contents however expressed confidence within the authorities’s dedication. “I’ve 100% hope on this authorities that they’ve the political will to implement inside reservation. My intention is to see a everlasting resolution to this drawback. There could also be a brief delay, and I enchantment to the folks to bear with it,” he mentioned.

The fee’s report was anticipated to look at the backwardness inside sub-groups of scheduled castes to make sure truthful distribution of reservation advantages. It might additionally incorporate suggestions from the AJ Sadashiva Fee, which proposed a sub-matrix system inside the SC quota. The Sadashiva Fee, shaped in 2005, submitted its findings in 2012, however its suggestions have been rejected by the BJP-led Basavaraj Bommai authorities.

On March 24, 2023, the Bommai authorities introduced an inside quota amongst 101 SC communities, allocating 6% to SC (Left), 5.5% to SC (Proper), 4.5% to SC (Touchable), and 1% to SC (Others). The general SC quota was elevated from 15% to 17%, and the ST quota from 3% to 7%, based mostly on the H.N. Nagamohan Das fee report. Nonetheless, the Congress, then in opposition, had criticised this transfer, claiming it was politically motivated to safe votes from dominant SC factions.

Talking at a press convention after a gathering on inside reservation, House Minister G. Parameshwara reaffirmed the Congress authorities’s dedication to implementing the interior quota. “Our authorities is dedicated to implementing inside reservation for Scheduled Castes. We had already promised this in our occasion’s election manifesto. Retired Justice Nagamohan Das knowledgeable us within the assembly that empirical knowledge will present a transparent perspective on the problem,” he acknowledged.

The federal government has assured that it’ll proceed in keeping with Supreme Courtroom pointers. “Most departments have already offered the required knowledge. We’ll proceed in accordance with Supreme Courtroom pointers. Till inside reservation is carried out, no backlog positions, promotions, or new appointments shall be made,” Mahadevappa clarified