Karnataka to explore legal options to challenge High Court verdict striking down reservation enhancement

Following the Karnataka High Court striking down the enhancement of reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the State, Congress leaders said the government is exploring legal options to challenge the order and safeguard ongoing recruitment and education admissions. The leaders have also questioned the Union government’s reluctance to include the law in the Ninth Schedule.

Cabinet to discuss

Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said the High Court verdict will be discussed comprehensively by the Cabinet, following which a decision will be taken on the future course of action, including the possibility of filing an appeal in the Supreme Court.

Speaking to media representatives, he said that if a situation arises in which the overall reservation percentage has to be reduced, the percentages under internal reservation may also have to be revised proportionately. While mathematically, such a revision may not be difficult, the more serious concern is that it could reduce the opportunities available to different communities, he said.

The matter is expected to be discussed in the Cabinet on Thursday as per government sources.

Abrupt implementation

In a statement issued following the Karnataka High Court judgment that struck down the increase in reservation — from 15% to 17% for SCs, and from 3% to 7% for STs – the Deputy Chief Minister stated that the “verdict highlights the irresponsibility of the previous BJP government and the persistent neglect of the BJP-led Union government.”

“Why did the previous BJP government abruptly implement the reservation increase law just before the 2023 Assembly elections without laying a proper Constitutional foundation? In October 2022 itself, the then BJP government was fully aware that increasing the SC/ST reservation would raise Karnataka’s total quota to 56%, thereby breaching the prevailing 50% ceiling,” he said.

Pointing to the Union government’s reply in Parliament on July 25, 2026, stating that the proposal to include Karnataka’s reservation Act in the Ninth Schedule was deferred because the matter was sub-judice, the Deputy Chief Minister termed it unacceptable.

Exceptional circumstances

Expressing his personal view on the High Court verdict, Mr. Parameshwara said that Karnataka’s circumstances could have been examined as an exceptional case.

“Tamil Nadu has been provided 69% reservation through a Constitutional amendment. When such an arrangement has been made there, the additional 6% reservation beyond the 50% ceiling in Karnataka could also have been examined as a special case in light of its social circumstances,” he said.

‘Explain constitutional solution’

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too questioned the BJP’s move to announce enhanced reservation without first ensuring its Constitutional sustainability.

“The BJP-led Union government subsequently deferred Karnataka’s request for inclusion in the Ninth Schedule, citing pending litigation. It must now explain what constitutional solution it proposes,” he said.

Noting that the Justice Nagamohan Das Committee, constituted during the Congress government, had provided the foundation for enhancing reservation, Mr. Siddaramaiah demanded that the Union government review the 50% ceiling, facilitate a constitutionally sustainable framework for population-informed reservation, and reconsider Karnataka’s Ninth Schedule proposal.

Accusing the BJP of ‘muddying the waters’, Home Minister Priyank Kharge said, “I’m hearing that one of the observations by the court is that it was not done through a consultative process. It sems like the BJP government hurried it for electoral gains. The 50% ceiling is already breached through EWS. And there are states like Tamil Nadu with 69% reservation. So how is that constitutional and this unconstitutional?”

Mahasabha welcomes verdict

Meanwhile, H.M. Renuka Prasanna, national secretary for the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, welcomed the verdict, terming it “a good example that nobody is above the Constitution.”

“The issue has been dragging on in court for the last four years, and with no relaxation in the age limit for jobs, many were deprived of the opportunity,” he said.

Stressing that the organisation is not against the SC/ST community, he added, “Our argument is simply that if the government had abided by the SC verdict not to breach the 50% ceiling, then so many people wouldn’t be left waiting.”