Karnataka Weighs Supreme Court Appeal After Quota Law Struck Down

The 2022 legislation had pushed the total reservation threshold to 56 percent, exceeding the traditional 50 percent cap. Under the now-contested law, SC quotas rose from 15 to 17 percent, while ST allocations climbed from 3 to 7 percent. Parameshwara defended the policy, arguing that the Constitution permits adjustments under extraordinary circumstances to support historically marginalized groups. He dismissed BJP criticism regarding the judicial outcome, noting that the administration cannot dictate or influence court rulings.

Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah labeled the court’s decision a significant setback for social justice. He questioned whether the previous BJP administration prioritized electoral gains over constitutional sustainability when implementing the hike ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. Siddaramaiah further challenged the Union Government to provide a path forward, specifically citing the failure to include these quotas in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, which would have offered legal protection against such challenges.