The Karnataka government has received a major report recommending internal reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the state. The report was prepared by a commission led by retired High Court judge HN Nagmohan Das and was submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru. The report is 1,766 pages long and is based on a large survey that covered more than 10.7 million people from 2.724 million SC households across the state.
The report recommends dividing the existing 17% SC reservation among different SC sub-castes. This is being done to ensure fair access to government benefits in jobs, education, and political representation. Communities like the Dalit Left (mainly Madigas), Dalit Right (mostly Holeyas), Lambanis, Bhovis, Korachas, Kormas, and some nomadic groups are expected to be covered under this new proposal.
This move comes after years of demands from several sub-castes, especially the Dalit Left, who claim they have been left out of the benefits of the current reservation system. Many say that a large portion of the benefits have gone to one or two dominant communities, leaving others behind. To address this imbalance, the state formed the one-member Nagmohan Das Commission after the Supreme Court ruled that internal reservations are legal under Article 14 of the Constitution.
Justice Das said the commission’s work is complete and that the report is now entirely in the hands of the state government. He added that he had long believed that internal reservation was necessary for real justice among SC communities. The report will be presented in the next cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday. Once reviewed, the government will decide whether to accept and implement the suggestions.
Several top leaders were present when the report was handed over, including ministers HC Mahadevappa, G Parameshwara, Priyank Kharge, Shivaraj Tangadagi, and RB Thimmapur. CM Siddaramaiah posted on social media that the report is a major step forward in ensuring social justice and equal rights for all SC groups in the state.
According to Justice Das, the data collection was done using a mobile app and took place between May 5 and July 6. Over 93% of Karnataka’s SC population was covered. However, in areas under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), coverage was lower, with only 54% of the population included.
Although the full contents of the report haven’t been made public, officials say there are six key recommendations. These are likely to be discussed in detail in the cabinet meeting. Until then, the government has not confirmed what actions it will take.
The report is expected to be compared with the earlier AG Sadashiva Commission report from 2012, which had proposed dividing the 17% SC quota like this: 6% for SC-Left, 5.5% for SC-Right, 3% for more marginalised groups, and 1% for others. That report, however, was never implemented.
Minister G Parameshwara called the Nagmohan Das report a “historic” document and praised the use of modern technology in preparing it. He said this was the first time such a study had been done in a scientific and structured way. He also clarified that the cabinet must approve the report before any action is taken, and even the chief minister cannot make the decision alone.
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Shivaraj Tangadagi, minister for Kannada and Culture, confirmed that the cabinet will meet to discuss the report’s suggestions. He said the chief minister will guide the discussion and lead the decision-making process.
Former minister H Anjaneya said he was hopeful but cautious, noting that past efforts to provide internal reservations had failed. He recalled that both the Sadashiva Commission and the Madhuswamy Cabinet Sub-Committee had recommended internal quotas of 6% for SC-Left, but those reports were not implemented. He added that members of the Dalit Left, including safai karmacharis (sanitation workers) and daily-wage labourers, have been waiting for fair treatment for more than 35 years.
Due to the sensitive nature of the issue and its legal implications, the state has temporarily paused recruitment to government jobs. This is to avoid legal challenges while the government finalises its decision based on the new report.
In summary, the Karnataka government now faces a critical decision on how to handle internal reservations for SC sub-castes. The Nagmohan Das report, if implemented, could reshape how reservation benefits are shared, with the goal of ensuring that all SC communities get a fair chance at social and economic progress.
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