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Karnataka High Court strikes down law raising SC/ST reservation
ஏன் செய்தியில்?
A state law raised SC/ST quota and fell: the 50 per cent ceiling every reservation answer needs
The Karnataka High Court has struck down a law that increased reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, declaring it unconstitutional.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type; Karnataka-specific
What you need to know
2 நிமிடம்
The Karnataka High Court has struck down a law that increased reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, declaring it unconstitutional.
The court held that the 50 per cent ceiling on total reservation is a binding constitutional principle.
ஆதாரங்கள்: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
முக்கிய உண்மைகள்
Remember these
- Karnataka High Court struck down a law that increased reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, holding it unconstitutional.
- The court held that the 50 per cent ceiling on total reservation is a binding constitutional principle.
- The 50 per cent ceiling was laid down in Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992), the Mandal Commission case.
- Article 15(4), Article 16(4) and Article 46 are the core provisions on reservation and social justice.
- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are notified under Articles 341 and 342.
ப்ரிலிம்ஸ் · மெயின்ஸ்
How the exam will ask it
ப்ரிலிம்ஸ்
- Statement: The Supreme Court in Indra Sawhney (1992) held that reservations should ordinarily not exceed 50 per cent in total. (Correct)
- Statement: Article 16(4) enables the State to make provision for reservation in appointments in favour of backward classes inadequately represented in State services. (Correct)
- Statement: The 50 per cent ceiling on reservation was laid down in the Kesavananda Bharati case. (Incorrect; it comes from Indra Sawhney)
மெயின்ஸ்
GS-II (Polity and Social Justice): The issue is whether a State can raise SC/ST quota beyond the Indra Sawhney ceiling of 50 per cent. The provisions are Articles 15(4), 16(4) and 46, read with the Ninth Schedule and Article 31B debate on judicial review of such laws. The implication is that States seeking higher quotas need quantifiable data and 'extraordinary circumstances', and the way forward is empirical backing, a fair sub-classification and a considered reading of the ceiling.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
The 50 per cent ceiling on total reservation in India was laid down by the Supreme Court in which case?
- Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
- State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan
- Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
- Minerva Mills v. Union of India
விடையைக் காட்டு
விடை: C — Indra Sawhney v. Union of India is the answer: the 1992 Mandal judgment capped total reservation at 50 per cent, the ceiling the Karnataka High Court has called binding.
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