The transparency of Karnataka in the Public Procurement Act (amendment) was approved at the budget meeting of the State Legislative Corps in March. The bill proposes to provide Muslims with 4% of the quota in the building laundry worth up to 1 ₹ Crore. | PHOTO CREDIT: MULALI KUMAR K
Governor Thaawwarchand Gehlot reserved for the president’s consent to the Congress government to introduce 4% of the Muslim quota to “avoid more constitutional complications”, and at the same time state that the founding document of the country does not allow reservations about religion.
The transparency of Karnataka in the Public Procurement Act (amendment) was approved at the budget meeting of the State Legislative Corps in March. The bill proposes to provide Muslims with 4% of the quota in the building laundry worth up to 1 ₹ Crore.
The opposition of BJP strongly opposed the bill and described it as a “reassuring policy” of the ruling congress.
The Governor’s decision came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently started the Congress Government for reservations in offers on the basis of religion by “ripping” the rights of SC/STS and the OS.
“The Indian Constitution does not allow a reservation based on religion because it violates the principles of equality (Art. 14), non -discrimination (Article 15) and equal opportunities in public jobs (Article 16),” Mr. Gehlot said in his communication with the government.
Governor said that the Supreme Court “consistently” decided that positive steps must be based on social and educational backwardness and not on religious identity.
Before the elections at the Assembly of 2023, the previous BJP government withdrew 4% of the reservation according to category 2b and the case awaits the Supreme Court.
In the recent judgment of Saurabha Chaudri vs. India (2003) The Supreme Court stated that Articles 15 and 16 banned reservations on the basis of religion, and any positive steps must be based on socio-economic factors.
The governor recorded the case of the Calcutus High Court on the classification of 77 Muslim communities as a municipality in West Bengal, which was canceled.
The bill also increases the reservation limit in the construction industry for SC/STS from CRS 1 to Crore 2. It also represents a reservation for SC/STS, category-1, category-2a and 2-B category (Muslims) Civil Code in Government offers for goods and services up to 1 Crore.
Published – April 17, 2025 12:10 AM IS
