Karnataka Government Challenges High Court Ruling on 56% Reservation in Supreme Court

Bengaluru, November 11 (Daily Kiran) : The Karnataka government has taken a significant step by filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, contesting the High Court’s decision that annulled the state’s provision for 56% reservation. This announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara during a media briefing.

Parameshwara explained that the government had already resolved to appeal against the High Court’s ruling, which stated that the reservation limit cannot exceed 50%. The state government is now awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision and plans to raise this issue with the central government as well.

In his remarks, Parameshwara pointed out that neighboring Tamil Nadu has successfully secured a 69% reservation, which is protected under the Constitution’s Ninth Schedule. He questioned why Karnataka should not receive similar legal protection, given the existing provisions in Tamil Nadu.

He criticized the previous BJP-led government under former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai for not pushing for an increase in reservation and its inclusion in the Ninth Schedule, suggesting that proactive measures could have prevented the current situation.

The ongoing reservation dispute has complicated recruitment processes in the state, leading to uncertainties. Parameshwara also addressed the state’s request for drought relief assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), noting that the government had reached out to the central government over two weeks ago but had yet to secure a meeting.

Regarding the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to Mysuru, he expressed doubts about the benefits of such a meeting, as the schedule is pre-arranged. The government intends to request a separate meeting at an appropriate time and will decide on sending a multi-party delegation to Delhi once an appointment is confirmed.

On the issue of farmer suicides amid drought conditions, Parameshwara reported a decrease in cases this year compared to previous years, highlighting that hundreds or thousands of such incidents were common in earlier years.

The government has implemented a law to regulate microfinance institutions and has decided to suspend loan repayments for six months to alleviate pressure on farmers. However, he raised concerns about informal lending practices that lack documentation, which can lead to severe mental stress for borrowers.

Addressing rising prices of essential goods like milk and yogurt, Parameshwara stated that the government is not defending the price hikes but emphasized that Karnataka is not receiving adequate financial assistance and grants from the central government. He noted that increased financial support could alleviate the state’s economic burden and reduce the need for price increases.

He acknowledged that rising costs of diesel and other agricultural expenses have impacted farmers, leading to a decline in milk production in the state this year. The government is committed to ensuring dairy producers receive fair prices for their products to avoid financial distress, which is why recent adjustments in milk prices were made.

While recognizing the burden of rising prices on urban consumers, he mentioned that yogurt is subject to a 5% GST, indicating the need for further discussion on tax-related issues.