Internal quota issue hangs fire with discussion incomplete in Cabinet

The vexed issue of internal reservation is set to bog down the Karnataka government for some more time to come, as the Cabinet meeting on Thursday could not arrive at a decision. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told his colleagues that a decision could be taken at a special Cabinet meet that would be called shortly.

With this, the decision to go ahead with the recruitment for 56,432 posts with a 50% cap on reservation and without internal reservation still holds ground.

Even after a long deliberation, the Cabinet could not arrive at a decision as opposition to internal reservation within the 15% reservation quota for Scheduled Castes came on legal grounds, and the problem that could arise with roster system, sources said. The Chief Minister is learnt to have shot down a proposal to set up a committee to recommend a solution.

“There was a long deliberation, but discussion remained incomplete. All Ministers were not able to put forth their views. The Chief Minister suggested that the decision can be taken in the next Cabinet meet,” Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil told presspersons here during the Cabinet briefing.

“Whatever the Cabinet decided earlier (about recruitment with 50% cap on reservation and without internal quota) does not change. The next Cabinet meet to discuss the issue will be convened as early as possible,” he said.

The internal reservation issue has created a rift between Dalit communities, with Dalit left (Madiga and others) communities insisting on internal reservation within 15% reservation quota while the Dalit right (Holeya and others) opposing it.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Siddaramaiah is learnt to have discussed the matter with retired judge H.N. Nagmohan Das, based on whose reports the reservation for SCs and STs had been increased from 15% to 17% and 3% to 7%, respectively, and internal reservation matrix drawn. He also met Advocate-General K. Shashikiran Shetty to seek legal advice over the matter, sources said.

Sources said that the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms order last Saturday that laid down the guidelines for recruitment authorities/ departments in which reservation issues have been covered will not be disturbed till the Cabinet decides on the internal reservation issue.