Karnataka to decide on SC internal reservation at April 24 cabinet meet

The Karnataka government has convened a special Cabinet meeting on April 24 to deliberate on the long-pending issue of internal reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs), a move that could significantly impact recruitment across the state.

The meeting, originally scheduled for March 27, had to be postponed due to the Model Code of Conduct in force for Assembly bypolls in Davanagere South and Bagalkote, held on April 9. With the elections now concluded, the government has revived the discussion, signalling urgency on the matter.

According to government sources, finalising internal reservation is crucial to filling nearly 65,000 vacant government posts . The state reportedly has over 2.5 lakh vacancies , and recruitment has remained stalled due to the absence of clarity on sub-categorisation within SC quotas.

Officials indicated that the proposed move is being examined in light of recent judicial developments. The Supreme Court judgment on sub-classification of Scheduled Castes upheld the power of states to create sub-categories within SC reservations to ensure equitable distribution of benefits among different communities. If Karnataka proceeds on these lines, it would mark a major policy shift with far-reaching social and political implications.

The government is also under pressure to expedite hiring amid growing discontent among unemployed youth. A large-scale protest by government job aspirants in Hubballi on February 24 highlighted rising frustration over delayed recruitment.

Sources suggest that the April 24 meeting could pave the way for a decisive policy framework, potentially unlocking stalled appointments and addressing long-standing demands for equitable reservation within SC communities.