Karnataka to fill SC/ST backlog vacancies; SIT formed over 150-acre land row
Synopsis
Karnataka’s Deputy CM Parameshwara pledged to fill SC/ST backlog vacancies and revealed that a government SIT will probe allegations that 150 acres of Dalit-community land are under Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s control — a disclosure that emerged on the very day Dalit leaders raised it at Vidhana Soudha.
Key Takeaways
Parameshwara met Dalit organisation leaders at Vidhana Soudha , Bengaluru on 21 July and pledged to fill SC/ST backlog vacancies in universities and major departments.
The state is already recruiting 72,000 personnel across departments, with SC/ST reservations to be applied as mandated.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed by the Revenue Department to probe allegations that 150 acres of SC/ST land are under Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s control; the probe will be led by Divisional Commissioner Aditya Amalan Biswas .
Post-matric scholarship recipients currently receive ₹1,800 against expenses of nearly ₹3,000 ; an increase will be considered in the next budget .
Concerns raised over exclusion of Dalit women from guarantee schemes, KIADB land allocation, KSFC loans, and harassment of nomadic and tribal communities by forest officials.
Special recruitment measures are being considered for 12 unemployed PhD holders from tribal communities.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara on Tuesday, 21 July announced that backlog vacancies in universities and major government departments would be filled, following an extensive meeting with leaders of Dalit organisations at Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru. The state government, which is already recruiting 72,000 personnel across departments, assured that Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates would receive reservations as mandated by law.
Key Announcements on Employment and Reservations
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Parameshwara confirmed that unfilled reserved posts would be taken up separately, in addition to the ongoing 72,000-strong recruitment drive. He also said the government is considering special recruitment measures for highly qualified tribal candidates, including 12 PhD holders who are currently unemployed. “We will fill backlog vacancies in universities and major departments. I will discuss the matter with the Chief Minister and ensure that these positions are filled,” he said.
SIT Formed Over Alleged SC/ST Land Encroachment
In a significant development, the Revenue Department has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine allegations that nearly 150 acres of land belonging to SC/ST communities are under the control of Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The investigation will be headed by Bengaluru Divisional Commissioner Aditya Amalan Biswas. Parameshwara noted that the decision to form the SIT coincidentally came on the same day the issue was raised during the meeting.
Scholarship Gaps and Welfare Scheme Exclusions
Dalit leaders raised concerns about the adequacy of post-matric scholarships, with current recipients receiving ₹1,800 while actual student expenses reportedly run close to ₹3,000. Parameshwara acknowledged the shortfall and said the government would consider increasing the scholarship amount in the next budget, following consultations with the Chief Minister. Separately, complaints were received that women from Dalit communities were not fully benefiting from the state’s guarantee schemes. “We will collect district-wise and taluk-wise information and take corrective measures wherever Dalit women have been left out of these schemes,” he said.
Other Issues Raised by Dalit Organisations
Leaders also flagged concerns around land allocation by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), access to housing layouts, and loans through the Karnataka State Financial Corporation (KSFC). Parameshwara further assured action on alleged harassment of nomadic and tribal communities by forest officials and promised to examine demands to streamline the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP). On a separate note, the Deputy Chief Minister said strict action would be taken against those responsible for the alleged attack on officials during the Shivajinagar encroachment removal drive.
What Comes Next
The Karnataka government’s commitments at Tuesday’s meeting span multiple departments and will require coordination with the Chief Minister’s office on budgetary and administrative decisions. The SIT probe into the land allegations and the ongoing 72,000-post recruitment drive will serve as early indicators of how swiftly these assurances translate into action.
Point of View
Yet it arrived without a deadline or a public FIR, raising questions about whether the probe will move at administrative or electoral pace. The scholarship gap — ₹1,800 against ₹3,000 in actual costs — is a quantifiable failure that has persisted across budget cycles; promising a review in the ‘next budget’ means the shortfall continues for at least another year. Karnataka’s backlog vacancy problem in higher education is not new; the credibility test will be whether the 72,000-post drive produces verifiable SC/ST appointment data, not just aggregate recruitment numbers.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Karnataka Deputy CM Parameshwara announce for SC/ST communities?
Parameshwara announced that backlog vacancies in universities and major government departments would be filled, and that SC/ST candidates would receive reservations as mandated during the state’s ongoing recruitment of 72,000 personnel. He also said unfilled reserved posts would be addressed separately.
What is the SIT formed by the Karnataka Revenue Department?
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe allegations that nearly 150 acres of land belonging to SC/ST communities are under the control of Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The investigation will be led by Bengaluru Divisional Commissioner Aditya Amalan Biswas.
Why are Dalit leaders demanding a scholarship increase in Karnataka?
Post-matric scholarship recipients currently receive ₹1,800, while actual student expenses reportedly amount to nearly ₹3,000 — a gap that Dalit organisations argue leaves students financially short. The Karnataka government has said it will consider an increase in the next budget.
Which other issues were raised at the Vidhana Soudha meeting?
Dalit leaders raised concerns about exclusion of Dalit women from state guarantee schemes, land allocation by KIADB, housing and loan access through KSFC, alleged harassment of nomadic and tribal communities by forest officials, and implementation gaps in the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan.
What is being done for unemployed PhD holders from tribal communities in Karnataka?
The Karnataka government is considering special recruitment measures for highly qualified tribal candidates, specifically citing 12 PhD holders who are currently unemployed. No formal scheme or timeline has been announced yet.
