Karnataka to file SC petition over HC order quashing SC/ST reservation hike
Synopsis
Karnataka's Congress government has decided to take the fight for SC/ST reservation to the Supreme Court after the High Court struck down the state's hike from 50% to 56% — a move originally made by the BJP's Bommai government in 2022. Deputy CM Parameshwara is also pushing to shield the increase via the 9th Schedule, a route that would make it virtually court-proof. The stakes go beyond Karnataka: it could set a nationwide precedent for population-proportionate reservation claims.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka Deputy CM G.
Parameshwara announced on 26 October 2026 that the state will file an SLP in the Supreme Court against the HC order quashing the SC/ST reservation hike.
The High Court reduced total reservation from 56 per cent back to 50 per cent , reversing a hike first ordered by the BJP-Bommai government in October 2022 .
The government will also urge the Centre to include the reservation hike in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution for permanent judicial protection.
According to the 2011 Census , SCs are 17 per cent and STs are 7 per cent of Karnataka's population — a combined 24.1 per cent — the basis cited for the hike.
Recruitment and educational admissions had already been conducted under the 56 per cent framework, making the HC order administratively disruptive.
162 students have been sent abroad for higher studies and borewell facilities extended to thousands under SC/ST welfare schemes currently in operation.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara on Monday, 26 October 2026, announced that the state government will file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against the High Court order that quashed the hike in reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Speaking at the Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti and Maharshi Valmiki Award ceremony at the Banquet Hall, Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Parameshwara stated that the government will not compromise on the constitutional rights of SC and ST communities under any circumstances.
Cabinet Decision and Legal Strategy
The High Court judgment was discussed at length in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, after which the government resolved to appeal the verdict in the Supreme Court. Beyond the SLP, Parameshwara said the government is also exploring how to bring the reservation increase under the 9th Schedule of the Constitution to secure permanent protection — a route that would shield it from judicial review. The Centre will be urged to include the reservation hike in the 9th Schedule, he added.
Why the High Court Ruling Raised Concerns
Parameshwara described it as 'surprising' that the High Court reduced the reservation from 56 per cent back to 50 per cent, questioning on what grounds a population-proportionate increase was struck down. According to the 2011 Census, SCs constitute 17 per cent and STs 7 per cent of Karnataka's population — a combined share of approximately 24.1 per cent. The reservation hike was designed to align entitlements with this demographic reality.
Parameshwara drew a pointed comparison: Tamil Nadu's 69 per cent reservation system is protected under the 9th Schedule, and the Centre extended 10 per cent reservation to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) without judicial interference. 'Why, then, was Karnataka's 6 per cent increase based on SC/ST population cancelled?' he questioned, according to reports.
Origins of the Reservation Hike
The reservation increase was originally ordered by the then BJP government under Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in October 2022. The Bommai administration raised ST reservation to 7 per cent and SC reservation by 3 per cent, pushing total reservation in the state to 56 per cent. Parameshwara, without directly blaming the previous government, noted that the Bommai administration — with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also in power at the Centre at the time — missed an opportunity to seek inclusion of the hike in the 9th Schedule. 'If that had been done, perhaps the current problem would not have arisen,' he said.
Ground Impact and Ongoing Programmes
The HC ruling has created administrative confusion, Parameshwara acknowledged, since the state government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had already carried out recruitment and educational admissions under the 56 per cent reservation framework. Among welfare initiatives in progress: under the Ganga Kalyana scheme, borewell facilities have been extended to thousands of beneficiaries; scholarships have been disbursed to students; and 162 students have been granted opportunities for higher studies abroad. Additionally, a rule mandating that 17 per cent of all departmental funds be reserved for SC community development remains in force.
Valmiki Corporation Row
Parameshwara also addressed the controversy surrounding the Valmiki Development Corporation, which he attributed to political motivations. 'No one was harmed by this. I myself was the Home Minister at that time. All the money mentioned in connection with the allegation has come back,' he said, according to reports.
With the SLP filing expected shortly, the Supreme Court's response will determine whether Karnataka's SC/ST communities retain reservation levels proportionate to their population — a question that could set a national precedent for population-based reservation claims.
Point of View
But the more consequential move is the push for 9th Schedule protection — a route that would insulate population-based reservation from the judiciary entirely, mirroring Tamil Nadu's 69 per cent framework. What mainstream coverage underplays is the political irony: the BJP, which originally ordered the hike in 2022, failed to seek 9th Schedule cover when it controlled both the state and the Centre, leaving the Congress government to clean up the constitutional exposure. The deeper question is whether the Supreme Court will validate population proportion as a standalone justification for breaching the 50 per cent ceiling — a standard the Court itself set in the Indra Sawhney judgment. That ruling, not just Karnataka's HC order, is the real barrier Parameshwara's legal team must overcome.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Karnataka government filing an SLP in the Supreme Court?
The Karnataka government is filing a Special Leave Petition after the High Court struck down the state's hike in SC/ST reservation from 50 per cent to 56 per cent. Deputy CM G. Parameshwara announced the decision on 26 October 2026, describing the government's commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of SC and ST communities as non-negotiable.
Who originally increased Karnataka's SC/ST reservation to 56 per cent?
The BJP government led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai raised ST reservation to 7 per cent and SC reservation by 3 per cent in October 2022, pushing the total to 56 per cent. Parameshwara noted that the Bommai administration did not seek inclusion of the hike in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution at the time, which could have shielded it from legal challenge.
What is the 9th Schedule and why does Karnataka want the reservation hike included in it?
The 9th Schedule of the Constitution contains laws that are broadly protected from judicial review. Karnataka wants the SC/ST reservation hike placed there to grant it permanent protection, similar to Tamil Nadu's 69 per cent reservation system which is already listed in the Schedule. The state will urge the Centre to facilitate this inclusion.
What is the population basis cited for Karnataka's reservation hike?
According to the 2011 Census, Scheduled Castes make up 17 per cent and Scheduled Tribes 7 per cent of Karnataka's population, totalling approximately 24.1 per cent. The state government increased reservation to 56 per cent with the stated aim of bringing entitlements in proportion to population share.
How has the High Court ruling affected existing admissions and recruitment in Karnataka?
The ruling has created administrative confusion because the state government had already conducted recruitment processes and educational admissions under the 56 per cent reservation framework. Deputy CM Parameshwara acknowledged the disruption and said all necessary legal steps will be taken to resolve the situation.
