Bengaluru/New Delhi: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday used the golden jubilee celebration of the LG Havanur Commission to press for expanding reservation beyond government structures, including into the private sector. Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, he argued that India’s social justice framework must evolve to meet present-day inequalities and ensure representation for all backward communities.
Call for reservation in private sector
The chief minister said that while Karnataka already provides political reservation in local bodies, this must be extended to the assembly and Parliament. “There must be strong demand for reservation in these places and we shall support it. We are seeking reservation not just in the government political hierarchy but also in the private sector,” he said.
Acknowledging that implementing such a measure will involve significant challenges, Siddaramaiah urged OBC groups and organisations to work with the government in developing a practical framework. He also reiterated the state’s long-standing demand to remove the Supreme Court-imposed 50% cap on total reservation.
According to him, Karnataka intends to raise the total quota to 70–75% to cover all backward communities. “Everyone should get justice,” he said, reaffirming his government’s position that the cap is outdated and restricts the pursuit of equitable representation.
Survey report to be released soon
Siddaramaiah announced that the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission’s socio-educational survey report would be finalised and submitted before the end of the month. “I have assured Rahul Gandhi that the report will be ready… Once Madhusudhan Naik submits it, I intend to accept it and implement the recommendations,” he said.
The chief minister expressed confidence that the report would not face the kind of objections that had delayed the H. Kantharaj report in 2015. The Naik Commission’s findings are expected to form the basis of the government’s future reservation policy and its case for exceeding the 50% cap.
Criticism of opposition to caste survey
Former advocate general Prof Ravi Verma Kumar criticised Infosys founder N. R. Narayana Murthy for declining to participate in the caste survey. “This man has opposed reservation all his life… The people who are against social justice are beneficiaries of this inequality,” he said, adding that widespread participation is essential for data-driven policymaking.
Congress marks 50 years of Havanur report
In Delhi, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Havanur Commission report, describing it as “hugely transformative” and influential beyond Karnataka. He noted that T. M. Havanur’s report, submitted to then chief minister D. Devaraj Urs on 19 November 1975, shaped national policy discussions on backward-class upliftment.
Ramesh also recalled Havanur’s later role in the Mandal Commission, whose 1980 recommendations paved the way for the reservation framework currently in use across India. He said the golden jubilee was an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of social justice policies and the need for updated, data-driven legislation.
Conclusion
The golden jubilee of the Havanur Commission has catalysed fresh debate on expanding reservation, with Karnataka pushing for private-sector quotas and higher overall limits. As the state awaits the Backward Classes Commission’s survey report, the political and policy stakes surrounding reservation are set to intensify in the coming months.