The Karnataka state assembly on Friday passed a bill to provide 4 percent reservation to Muslims under Category-2B in public contracts amid strong protests by the Opposition BJP.
The Karnataka government has passed a bill to provide a 4% reservation for Muslims in educational institutions and government jobs, categorizing them under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) 2B category. This decision has sparked controversy for several reasons. Firstly, it reverses a previous decision by the BJP-led government to remove this reservation, which had been in place since 1994. Critics argue that this move could be seen as unconstitutional because reservations based on religion are not typically allowed under Indian law, which focuses on social and educational backwardness rather than religion. Additionally, the BJP and other groups have protested, claiming that this reservation would reduce the share for other backward communities like Vokkaligas and Lingayats, who were recently given increased quotas. The bill's passage has led to political debates about vote bank politics and the legal validity of such reservations, with potential challenges expected in court.
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