Bengaluru: Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has termed the Karnataka High Court’s decision to strike down enhanced reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) a serious setback to the aspirations of historically marginalised communities.
In a statement on social media, Siddaramaiah said the Congress respected the judiciary but argued that the judgment raised fundamental questions about the BJP’s approach to social justice.
He questioned the BJP government’s decision to increase reservation for SCs from 15% to 17% and for STs from 3% to 7% ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections, despite the revised quotas taking total reservation beyond the 50% ceiling.
“Why did the BJP announce enhanced reservation without first ensuring its constitutional sustainability?” he asked, alleging that electoral considerations may have taken precedence over a lasting solution to the demand for social justice.
Siddaramaiah said the Justice Nagamohan Das Committee, constituted during the Congress government, had laid the groundwork for enhancing reservations. He maintained that the demand stemmed from decades of struggle by marginalised communities rather than the political generosity of any party.
He also questioned the Union government’s decision to defer Karnataka’s request to include the enhanced reservation provisions in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, citing pending litigation. He called on the Centre to explain what constitutional solution it proposed following the High Court ruling.
Emphasising his commitment to AHINDA—an acronym referring to minorities, backward classes and Dalits—Siddaramaiah said political democracy remained incomplete without social and economic equality.
“Reservation is not charity. It is a constitutional instrument for correcting historical injustice and securing representation,” he said.
Siddaramaiah urged the Union government to review the 50% reservation ceiling, facilitate a constitutionally sustainable framework for population-informed reservation and reconsider Karnataka’s Ninth Schedule proposal.
He also called on the Karnataka government to pursue appropriate legal remedies to protect the enhanced quota and safeguard the interests of affected students and job aspirants.
“The struggle for social justice cannot be reduced to election-time announcements,” he said, stressing the need for political commitment, constitutional responsibility and long-term institutional reform.
