Karnataka HC strikes down enhanced SC/ST quota, says breaches 50% reservation cap
Mangalore Today News Network
Bengaluru, Oct 13, 2026: The Karnataka High Court struck down provisions of a 2022 state law that increased reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) from 15% to 17% and for Scheduled Tribes (STs) from 3% to 7%, holding that the enhanced quota breached the 50% reservation ceiling.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K S Hemalekha held that Section 3 of the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Act, 2022, violated Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution insofar as it took the aggregate reservation beyond 50%.
“Section 3 of the Act, insofar as it takes the aggregate reservation beyond the ceiling of 50 percent, is struck down as it violates Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution," the court held.
The bench also struck down Section 4 of the Act, which provided for enhanced reservation for SCs and STs in state government services, declaring it unconstitutional for violating Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.
The judgment came in response to two petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the legislation, which increased the overall reservation for SCs, STs and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from 50% to 56%.
What Is 50% Reservation Ceiling?
The 50% ceiling on reservations was laid down by the Supreme Court in its landmark 1992 judgment in Indra Sawhney vs Union of India. The principle has subsequently been upheld in several judicial decisions.
The Karnataka legislation sought to increase the SC quota from 15% to 17% and the ST quota from 3% to 7%, following recommendations and reports concerning the representation of these communities, including those associated with the Justice (Retd) Nagamohan Das Commission and a committee headed by former high court judge Justice Subhash B Adi.
The law was passed during the BJP government led by then chief minister Basavaraj Bommai. It received the governor’s assent on January 11, 2023, and was published in the Karnataka Gazette the following day.
Who Challenged The Law?
One of the petitions was filed by Mahendra Kumar Mitra, state president of the Dr Ambedkar Scheduled Castes Federation. The other petition was filed by Sagar H R, Prajwal Kumar D and Purushotham Gowda G M, civil engineering graduates who had applied for appointment as Assistant Engineer (Civil) in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The petitioners challenged the legislation on constitutional grounds, questioning the increase in the overall reservation quota beyond the established 50% ceiling.
Karnataka Deputy CM Parameshwara Calls For Review Of 50% Ceiling
Reacting to the verdict, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara described the judgment as a serious development with far-reaching implications for social justice, educational opportunities and public employment in the state.
“We respect the judiciary and the constitutional framework within which it operates. At the same time, this judgment raises fundamental questions about the political responsibility of the previous BJP government and the continued inaction of the BJP-led Union government," he said.
Parameshwara urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre to initiate a comprehensive review of the 50% reservation ceiling and pursue appropriate constitutional and legislative measures. He also called for Karnataka’s request to include the reservation provisions in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution to be examined without delay.
“Our demand is not for reservation as a symbolic announcement. Our demand is for reservation that is legally sustainable, socially meaningful and effectively implemented," he said.