Valmiki leaders urge CM Siddaramaiah to protect enhanced SC/ST quota

Bengaluru: A forum of Valmiki leaders led by former MP V S Ugrappa, on Tuesday, urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to take urgent legal and political measures to safeguard the law enhancing the reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to 17% and 7% respectively.

The forum pointed out that SCs constitute 17.1% and STs 6.95% of Karnataka’s population, adding that reservation in education and public employment must be proportional to their population.

Citing the report submitted by the Justice H N Nagamohan Das Commission, which had recommended enhancing reservation for SCs from 15 to 17% and for STs from 3% to 7%, the forum said that the recommendation had later been endorsed by Justice Subhash Adi Commission. The forum also pointed to the law enacted by the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government, increasing total reservation in the state to 56%. The High Court’s stay on increasing the total percentage of reservation had created a lot of uncertainty, besides dealing a severe blow to those in the SC/ST communities keen on seeing social justice served.  

“The only permanent constitutional protection available for the legislation was inclusion in the ninth schedule of the Constitution,” said the forum, urging Siddaramaiah to convene an all-party meeting and lead a delegation to meet the prime minister, seeking constitutional protection for the law.

The forum also sought immediate legal measures to get the High Court stay vacated by appointing experienced senior advocates and, if necessary, approaching the Supreme Court.

The forum also demanded strict action against individuals allegedly securing fake SC/ST caste certificates and against officials responsible for issuing such certificates.