In a move that has significant political and social implications, Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot on Friday sent the contentious Karnataka Scheduled Castes (Sub-Classification) Bill back to the state government. The governor's office stated it was seeking further clarifications on the proposed legislation, commonly known as the internal reservation bill.
Governor's Decision Halts Landmark Legislation
The bill, which was passed by the state legislature during the recent winter session in Belagavi, aims to reclassify the Scheduled Caste communities into three distinct groups for reservation purposes. It proposes to place the SC (Right) communities under Group A, the SC (Left) under Group B, and all other SC communities under Group C.
The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had hailed this bill as a historic decision, claiming it would resolve a three-decade-long struggle for equitable internal reservations within the SC community. By returning the bill, Governor Gehlot has effectively disrupted the government's plan to claim credit for delivering on this key promise of social justice.
Petitions and Administrative Concerns Behind the Move
Sources within the Raj Bhavan, the governor's official residence, indicated that the decision was influenced by a series of petitions. These appeals were led by Chitradurga MP and former deputy chief minister Govind Karjol, along with various organizations representing the left sect of the SC community.
The petitioners urged the governor to intervene, labeling the proposed internal reservations as "unscientific." A senior official from the Raj Bhavan further revealed that concerns were raised about potential unrest within government services. Many SC employees are currently due for promotions, and the new bill could potentially push eligible candidates down the seniority roster to prioritize candidates from more backward sub-castes, creating a controversy over promotion lists.
Additionally, officials from the Karnataka Administrative Services raised objections to a specific provision in the bill. They opposed the move to hand over the executive officer post to the endowment department, arguing it breaks established convention and could trigger a hierarchical crisis within the state administration.
Hate Speech Bill Still Pending, Most Others Cleared
In a related development, the press note from the governor's office suggested that Gehlot is yet to take a final decision on the separate Karnataka Prevention of Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Bill. This bill remains the only piece of legislation pending with the Raj Bhavan from the Belagavi session.
Out of the 22 bills sent to the governor after the winter session, assent has been granted to 19. With the internal reservation bill now returned, only the hate speech bill awaits the governor's final nod. This sequence of events underscores the ongoing scrutiny of key social legislation by the governor's office, adding a new layer to the political dynamics in Karnataka.
