Karnataka governor sends SC quota bill back to govt, seeks clarifications; also stalls assent to hate speech bill

BENGALURU: Karnataka governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot Friday issued a statement saying his office had sent the Karnataka Scheduled Castes (sub-classification) Bill - commonly referred to as the internal reservation bill - back to govt "seeking further clarification".A press note issued from governor's office also suggested that Gehlot was yet to decide on Karnataka Hate Speech & Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill.The internal reservation bill, passed during the recent winter session of the legislature in Belagavi, classifies SC (right) under Group A, SC (left) under Group B, and other SC communities under Group C.The Siddaramaiah govt hailed the bill as a landmark decision that seeks to put an end to 30 years of struggle for internal reservations.By returning the bill, though, the governor disrupted Congress govt's plan to claim credit for delivering social justice to sections within the SC community.Sources in the Lok Bhavan said a series of petitions to the governor, led by Chitradurga MP and former deputy CM, Govind Karjol, and other organizations from the left sect of the SC community, sought Gehlot's intervention on what they cited as "unscientific" internal reservations.

A Lok Bhavan official said concerns were also raised about trouble brewing within govt services, as many SC employees are due for promotion. Under the proposed bill, eligible candidates could be pushed down the roster to give priority to other, more backward sub-castes, potentially stirring up a storm over the promotions roster.Moreover, Karnataka Administrative Services officials objected to the executive officer post being handed over to the endowment department, breaking convention and creating a hierarchical crisis within the administration.The hate speech bill is the only one pending with Lok Bhavan as governor has given his assent to 19 of the 22 bills sent to him after the Belagavi winter session, returning two.