Karnataka High Court Rejects Higher Quotas For Marginalised Groups

The Karnataka High Court has cancelled a law that increased reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes beyond the fifty per cent limit.

On Monday, 12 October 2026, the Karnataka High Court in Bengaluru cancelled a 2022 law that increased reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). Reservation is a system of setting aside seats in schools and government jobs for groups that have faced historical unfairness. The state government had raised the quota for Scheduled Castes from 15% to 17% and for Scheduled Tribes from 3% to 7%. A two-judge bench, including Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K.S. Hemalekha, ruled that this law was unconstitutional. They explained that the increase pushed the total reservation in Karnataka to 56%. This goes beyond the 50% limit set by the Supreme Court in earlier cases. The judges struck down Sections 3 and 4 of the Act, saying they violated the right to equality under Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution. The court found that the state government did not follow the proper rules when making this change. This decision affects thousands of students and job seekers from these communities who were hoping for more opportunities.

Why it matters

This ruling is important because it touches on how India balances the rights of different groups. In 1992, the Supreme Court decided in the Indra Sawhney case that total reservation should not normally cross 50%. This limit was meant to ensure fairness for everyone while still helping those who have been left behind. The Karnataka government argued that a growing population and the need for fair representation justified the higher numbers. However, the High Court disagreed. It stated that a larger population is not an "extraordinary circumstance" that allows a state to break the 50% rule. For ordinary families, this means that the extra seats they were promised are no longer available. It also highlights a procedural mistake. The state did not consult the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. These are official bodies that protect the rights of these communities. By skipping this step, the government ignored a mandatory constitutional requirement. This case shows how political promises can sometimes fail if they do not follow the strict rules of the Constitution.

Key details of the ruling

• The previous BJP government first introduced the higher quotas through an ordinance in October 2022.

• The law officially started in January 2023 but was applied backwards to cover everything from November 2022.

• The High Court ruled that the state cannot use proportional representation as a reason to exceed the 50% ceiling on quotas.

• The central government told Parliament in July 2026 that it had not yet protected the law under the Ninth Schedule.

• The Ninth Schedule is a list of laws that are usually protected from being challenged in court.

• Current state leaders and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have expressed concern that this ruling is a major blow to marginalised people.

What's next

The Karnataka government now faces a difficult choice on how to protect these quotas. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said the Cabinet will meet to discuss the verdict and look for legal solutions. One option is to appeal to the Supreme Court, asking the highest court in India to reconsider the High Court's decision. Meanwhile, political parties are blaming each other for the situation. Some leaders ask why the law was not given constitutional protection earlier, while others accuse the current government of not defending it well enough in court. For students and workers from SC and ST communities, the main question is whether the state can find a way to restore these benefits legally. The outcome will determine if Karnataka can ever move past the 50% limit or if it must find other ways to support its citizens. The court's decision reminds us that any change to reservation must be done with careful study and proper consultation.