Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: Karnataka government has sent back the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to provide 4 per cent quota for Muslims in contracts, to the Raj Bhavan for the third time and explained to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot that his position is “untenable”.
The government sent back the Bill to the Governor on May 22 (Thursday) with specific explanations. The Governor has reserved the Bill for the assent of the President.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself believed to have explained the rationale and legality behind providing 4 per cent reservation to Muslims (category 2B) in public contracts.
According to sources, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is said to have broached the topic when he met Gehlot on Sunday. The Bill has been contentious, with the BJP accusing the Congress of "appeasement".
Gehlot’s decision assumes significance against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s verdict on April 7, when it ruled that Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi’s decision to reserve 10 bills for the President’s assent in 2023 was “illegal” and “erroneous”.
Reservation for Muslims is alongside the reservation already provided as per the existing Act to Scheduled Castes (17.15%), Scheduled Tribes (6.95%), Category 1 (4%) and Category 2A (15%). The Bill also seeks to provide reservations to all these categories, including Muslims, in contracts up to 2 crore (earlier it was 1 crore).
Speaking to DH, G Sridhar, the secretary of the Parliamentary Affairs Department, said: “As per the recent judgment of the Supreme Court, the Governor can only reserve those Bills for presidential assent that are repugnant to central Acts. Otherwise, he should either give his assent or reject the bill by providing specific reasons.”
Sridhar also explained that, contrary to public perception, the bill wasn’t just about providing reservations to Muslims but also involved enhancing the quantum of contracts falling under the ambit of the Bill from 1 crore to 2 crore.
The government has also explained that the Supreme Court has stayed an order by the previous Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government cancelling the 4% reservation to Muslims and distributing it to category 3A and 3B equally (2% each).
“We have also conveyed that Muslims will get job opportunities solely because of this move. It makes them independent and is hence necessary,” Sridhar added.