SC Adjourns Hearing On Plea Challenging Karnataka Govt’s Decision To Scrap Reservation For Muslims

The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on a petition challenging the Karnataka government’s decision to scrap 4% OBC reservation for Muslims until May 9, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has reiterated that no admissions or postings will be made based on the government directive till May 9.

The Karnataka government had previously requested an adjournment and assured a bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna that no new appointments or admissions would be made based on Karnataka’s ruling scrapping Muslim reservation until the next date of hearing.

The state administration also informed the court last week that no admissions or postings will be made based on a government order scrapping the OBC reservation for Muslims till April 18.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta provided the assurance to the Supreme Court, which scheduled the case for further hearing on April 18.

The bench also issued notice to the Karnataka Government and others on the petitions and asked them to file a response.

During the hearing last week, the Supreme Court stated that the government order appeared to be based on “fallacious presumptions.”

Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Karnataka government’s decision to abolish the 4% reservation granted to Muslims in the state.

The petitioners claimed that the state government’s decision, made soon before the forthcoming assembly election, was absolutely unconstitutional. The petitioners further claimed that the government distorted facts and that no empirical data exists.

Last month, the Karnataka government abolished the 4% OBC reservation for Muslims and redistributed it to the two major communities, Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas. In addition, the government decided to move OBC Muslims to the 10% Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Assembly election is scheduled to be held on May 10, 2023 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13, 2023.