HC notice to govt on SC sub-classification plea

Bengaluru: The high court Tuesday ordered notice to state govt in response to a petition filed by Confederation of Untouchable Nomadic Communities of Karnataka and others.Justice Suraj Govindaraj directed the respondents to file their responses.The petitioners challenged the May 8 internal reservation notification, claiming that most backward untouchables were bracketed in Category C by providing only 4.5% reservation as against 5.25% granted to other dominant castes under Scheduled Castes category in both Groups A and B.According to the petitioners, the govt order is illegal, arbitrary and also violates Articles 14, 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution.The state govt issued the May 8, 2026, order despite the fact that the earlier notification on the same issue, issued on Aug 25, 2025, is pending before high court.

The May 8 order perpetuates the same defects and proceeds on an arbitrary basis since the govt undertook sub-classification within the Scheduled Castes without establishing any objective, rational or scientifically ascertainable criteria regarding inter se backwardness among the constituent communities.The petitioners argued that, without any evidence or valid basis, the govt has unfairly divided Scheduled Castes into different categories.

They said this creates discrimination among communities that are similarly placed, violating the constitutional goal of ensuring reservation benefits are distributed fairly, especially to the most disadvantaged groups.

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