Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said the government’s decision to form a commission to collect empirical data for providing internal reservations among the Scheduled Castes (SCs) was not a “delaying tactic”.

The cabinet on Monday (October 31) gave its approval to establish an internal reservation among the SCs and decided to constitute a committee headed by a retired judge of the High Court, which will be asked to submit the report in three months.

“..commission, the government ensures fair, scientific and impartial implementation, without any delay tactics. The government is committed to social justice and will work in an inclusive manner, without compromising the interests of any community” , Siddaramaiah said in a statement.

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A section of the SCs, particularly the ‘SC Left’, demanded internal reservations, alleging that only a few influential sub-castes were grabbing majority of the benefits while many communities were still marginalized.

Just before the 2023 assembly elections, the cabinet of the previous BJP government had taken a decision on internal reservation, recommending to the central government an internal quota of 6 per cent for SC (Left), 5.5 per cent for SC (Right ), 4.5 percent. percent for the “touchables” (Banjara, Bhovi, Korcha, Kuruma, etc.) and one percent for the others.

The cabinet’s decision on Monday came against the backdrop of a historic verdict delivered by the Supreme Court on August 1, according to which states are constitutionally empowered to make sub-classifications within SCs, which form a socially heterogeneous class, to grant reservations for the upliftment of socially and educationally more backward castes.

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Noting that the cabinet has given in-principle approval for the implementation of internal reservation among the SCs, thereby fulfilling a long-pending demand for three decades, the CM said that Karnataka has 101 sub-groups within the SCs. SC and that the government strives to introduce an internal reserve with a scientific approach, ensuring that all these groups are included and taken into account.

Also citing the cabinet’s decision to constitute a committee, he said the government has decided to suspend fresh recruitment notifications for reserved posts in civil services and other departments until further notice. The Telangana government has taken a similar step by setting up an internal reservation commission, he said.

Noting that the Supreme Court has said that scientific and accurate data is essential for the proper implementation of internal reservations, Siddaramaiah said, “to collect this data, the state government is forming this commission, which will ensure that the report is submitted within the specified deadlines. “Once the report is received, the government will proceed with the implementation of internal reservations.”