Internal Reservation for Scheduled Castes: Nomadic Communities to approach Karnataka High Court

Bengaluru: The Confederation of Untouchable Nomadic Communities of Karnataka on Monday decided to contest the state government's new 5.25 - 5.25 - 4.5 formula for internal reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the High Court.

In a press conference, community leaders noted that they would file an additional petition challenging a Government Order (GO) that is expected to be passed soon based on the new formula.

The same Confederation had challenged the state government's decision to provide 6-6-5 reservation for SCs based on the state Cabinet's decision on August 19, 2025. They sought a separate 1% reservation as promised by the 1-6-5-4-1 formula of the Justice HN Nagamohan Das Commission.

The current 5.25- 5.25 - 4.5 formula is a recalibration for 15%, since the High Court has directed the government to not breach the 50% reservation ceiling set by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney Case in 1992 (the Supreme Court has not considered the 10% reservation for EWS as a breach of 50% cap).

The leaders rued that the government had failed to provide a separate 1% reservation and a special package to the 59 nomadic, semi-nomadic and highly sensitive communities despite having assured to do so on multiple occasions.

The confederation accused the chief minister of "lying" that the nomadic communities would get a 20% reservation within group C, where they are clubbed with the relatively more forward Lambani, Bhovi, Korma and Korcha communities.

'Self-respect' convention

The confederation also announced that a self-respect convention would be held at the end of May to "expose" the government's "treachery" over the issue.

The forum has also reiterated its demand for a special package to strengthen the 49 nomadic and semi-nomadic communities.