Bengaluru: In response to recent assertions by the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), the Chief Minister’s Office of Karnataka issued a statement vehemently refuting claims of any alterations to backward class reservations, particularly concerning the Muslim community.
Muslims have been part of backward class reservation since the L G Havanur Commisssion Report in 1974. The current Karnataka Govt has not made any changes to the backward class reservations. The previous govt had taken away the 4% BC reservation under category 2B to Muslims and the matter has been pending in the Supreme Court with the previous Bommai Govt giving an undertaking that it will not implement the changes during pendency of the case in the Supreme Court.
When the matter stands thus, the NCBC in a politically motivated move has issued a press note on an issue that does not concern it. The law is clear that the state governments have the power to determine their own list of castes and communities to be categorised as Backward Classes. The NCBC has no role in it.
The NCBC press note is motivated to create confusion in the state when it is going for election. It gives the impression that the Congress Govt of Karnataka has given a new reservation to Muslims. This is a blatant lie. The fact remains that the BC reservation of Muslims has been in existence since 1977 (04.03.1977) and it has withstood legal scrutiny.
Successive Backward Class Commissions, namely, Havanur, Venkataswamy, Chinnappa Reddy, Prof Ravi Verma Kumar Commissions have recognised Muslims subject to income ceiling as Backward Class.
This has been the position of law. Therefore request ANI and other media houses to not spread misinformation.
