OBC Quota: Karnataka accepts Commission report as Congress sounds readiness to face local body polls

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to provide 33% seats for other backward classes (OBCs) in the urban local bodies and in panchayats, partly accepting a set of recommendations made by retired Justice K Bhaktavatsala Commission.

Urban local body polls in Karnataka had been stuck for want of a water-tight policy on political reservation in urban local bodies and in panchayat institutions based on a set of scientific data on dominance of caste groupings in each seat.

The previous BJP regime had, in May 2022, set up a Commission, under retired high court judge Justice K Bhaktavatsala, asking it to come up with a report on determining political reservations for OBCs based on empirical data on OBCs.

The earlier system of political reservation was not based on empirical data, and the apex court had said states could hold local body polls only after deciding seats for OBCs based on the empirical data on their population in seats.

Justice Bhaktavatsala Commission relied on the elaborate caste census data, prepared by the State Backward Classes Commission. The data, part of a comprehensive report, however, is still under wraps, and the state government is awaiting clarity from the Congress high command to take a call on placing the report in public domain.

Law Minister HK Patil, briefing the media about the Cabinet decision, said the Justice Bhaktavatsala Commission had made five recommendations, but the Cabinet had accepted three.

The government would continue with the political reservations under the present categories of A & B. The OBC castes would get 33% seats in local bodies.