Karnataka to explore legal options to challenge High Court verdict striking down reservation enhancement

In early 2023 the Karnataka government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party passed a law that raised the percentage of seats reserved for socially and educationally backward classes in state institutions. The amendment was presented as a step to correct historic imbalances and to honour commitments made in earlier party manifestos. Critics argued that the timing, just weeks before the assembly poll, left little room for public debate. The legislation also included provisions for additional reservations for economically weaker sections, a move that sparked legal challenges across the country.

The Karnataka High Court delivered its verdict in August 2024, declaring the reservation enhancement unconstitutional because it exceeded the 50 percent ceiling set by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney case. The bench held that the state had not demonstrated a compelling need to breach the cap and that the law violated the principle of equality. Following the judgment, the state government announced it would examine all available legal avenues, including filing a review petition and approaching the Supreme Court. Officials said they would also seek a stay on the order while the appeal is pending.

Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, have seized on the court's decision to question the motives of the previous administration. Leaders accused the BJP of rushing the law through to win votes from specific communities, suggesting that the policy was more political than social. The controversy arrives at a time when Karnataka is preparing for the next assembly election, and the reservation issue is likely to feature prominently in campaign speeches. Observers note that any further legal battle could influence voter sentiment and shape the narrative around social justice in the state.