The Supreme Court on Thursday referred to BJP-led Karnataka government’s decision to scrap four per cent quota for Muslims as “absolutely fallacious assumption”. The court further deemed the state government’s decision to raise two per cent quotas for Vikkaligas and Lingayats each “shaky” and “flawed”.
SC questions ‘rationale behind the step’
The court was hearing petition challenging he order in which the petitioners argued that the Karnataka government went against the constitutional principles of equality and secularism by discriminating against Muslims, who contribute to 13 per cent of the state’s population. The petitioners also said that the government had not conducted any data before scrapping the rule.
The apex court questioned the rationale behind the step which was announced on March 24, just weeks ahead of the state assembly elections on May 10.
Karnataka govt reallots Muslim quota to Lingayats and Vokkaligas
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai-led government notified on March 30 that a decision taken by the cabinet to scrap the court per cent backward classes quota for Muslims and to reallot it to the two most dominant communities in the state, Lingayats and Vokkaligas.
Vokkaligas and Lingayats are two of the most influential communities in Karnataka who have traditionally supported various parties. The BJP has been trying to woo the two communities to garner the majority vote bank in the upcoming elections.
The court has questioned the validity of the commission’s report and ordered the government to provide more evidence to back up its decision.It also demanded that the government explain how it arrived at the 4% figure for Muslims, which was introduced by a previous Congress administration in 2013.
The court has adjourned the hearing until April 18 and has directed the Karnataka government and representatives of the Vokkaligas and Lingayats to file responses to the petitions. No appointments or admissions be made based on its decision until further orders are issued, the court further ordered.
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