1/3 reservation for OBC in BBMP based on imaginary data: Karnataka HC

BENGALURU, Karnataka: The Karnataka High Court in its recent ruling on September 30, observed that the decision of the Government of Karnataka to reserve one-third of the seats of Bengaluru City Council in favour of OBC candidates is based on imaginary data. The statement came in course of a decision to quash an August 16 notification of the civic body concerning the quota matrix.

The Government of Karnataka decided to reserve one-third of the 243 seats for the Bengaluru City Council on the basis of a report submitted by Justice Bhaktavatsala, a former judge of the Karnataka High Court. The commission submitted its report just a day ahead of the proceedings of the Supreme Court on a two-day delay in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections and issue of OBC reservations.

The commission referred to the data from urban and local body elections held in the year 1996, 2001, 2010 and 2015, to include a large number of castes and communities who comes under category A and B of the OBC category. Therefore, the commission stated that providing one-third reservation is necessary and recommended the same for forthcoming local body polls in favour of the OBC population.

The court noted, “conclusion arrived at by the commission of enquiry that 44.40 per cent of the total population of the state of Karnataka (including minorities) belongs to other backward classes is not based on any empirical data.” It further noted that the commission was supposed to conduct a detailed investigation in determining the factors that prevent people from participating in the political process.