Bengaluru: The Justice HN Nagmohan Das Commission is expected to submit its interim report within the next fortnight, enabling the govt to take a crucial decision on internal reservation among Scheduled Castes. The report is likely to provide empirical data, observations, and recommendations, which will guide the govt in restructuring the 17% reservation allocated to 101 Scheduled Caste communities.
On Monday, chief minister Siddaramaiah chaired a meeting with cabinet ministers from Scheduled Caste communities. Justice Das was also present. The meeting was held as a precursor to the commission’s report, which is expected to determine the govt’s next course of action.
“Our govt is committed to implementing internal reservation,” said social welfare minister HC Mahadevappa. “The committee was set up based on a Supreme Court directive and it will provide empirical data and recommend internal reservation. This meeting was held since the report will be submitted soon.”
Until a final decision is taken, the state has halted fresh recruitments, backlog appointments, and promotions in govt departments. Once the interim report is submitted, the govt is expected to hold another meeting to deliberate on its implementation.
“The cabinet has already had several discussions on the issue,” said home minister G Parameshwara, who also headed the Congress manifesto committee, which had promised internal reservation.
The demand for internal quotas has been a contentious issue for over two decades, with Left sect communities (Madigas and others) advocating a restructured reservation matrix, claiming Right sect communities (Holeyas and others) have benefited disproportionately.
Several govts attempted to resolve the issue, without much success. The AJ Sadashiva Commission recommended internal reservation in 2012, but its findings were opposed by Right sect groups over population data discrepancies. In March 2023, ahead of assembly elections, the then BJP govt led by Basavaraj Bommai announced an internal reservation matrix, but the move was met with resistance from Dalit factions.
Food and civil supplies minister KH Muniyappa, a strong proponent of internal reservation, stressed that there was no opposition to the move within the Siddaramaiah cabinet. “During the meeting, the ministers had unanimously asked for the interim report based on Supreme Court guidelines,” he said.
With the govt now awaiting the Justice Das Commission’s interim report, the state appears prepared to take a decisive call on the long-pending issue.