NEWS – The Karnataka State government appointed H.N. Nagamohan Das, a retired judge of the Karnataka High Court, to head the commission of inquiry on internal reservation for Scheduled Caste (SC) communities.

HIGHLIGHTS

Commission’s Mandate and Timeline

• Objective: To recommend an approach for implementing internal reservations among SC communities in Karnataka.
• Timeframe: The commission has two months to submit its recommendations.
• Focus: The commission will compile empirical data on the representation of various SC sub-communities in public education and employment sectors.

Previous Contributions of H.N. Nagamohan Das

• Das previously led a commission whose recommendations increased reservation quotas for SCs from 15% to 17% and for Scheduled Tribes (STs) from 3% to 7%.
• He is also involved in investigating the “40% commission” allegations from the previous BJP administration.

Need for Internal Reservation

• Demand from Dalit Groups: The State government has faced significant pressure from various Dalit groups advocating for internal reservations.
• Dalit Left vs. Dalit Right: The Dalit left faction has argued for nearly four decades that the Dalit right communities benefit disproportionately from the current reservation system for SCs.
• Current SC Reservation: Reservation for SCs in Karnataka is currently set at 17%, with calls for further internal division based on empirical representation.

Historical Context: The A.J. Sadashiva Commission

• 2012 Report: The A.J. Sadashiva Commission previously submitted a report recommending a sub-matrix within the SC reservation quota, specifically for Dalit left and Dalit right communities.
• Communities Identified: The report highlighted communities like Lambanis, Bhovis, Koracha, and Koramas, among others.
• Diversity within Dalits: Karnataka’s Dalit population comprises 101 distinct sub-communities, underscoring the need for equitable representation within reservation policies.