SC caste survey report to be discussed at Special Cabinet meet in Karnataka on August 16
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet will hold a special meeting on August 16 to discuss the Justice HN Nagamohan Das Commission’s report on internal reservation among Scheduled Castes.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil stated that the Commission surveyed 92% of the population across 101 SC communities. “Copies of the report have been distributed to all the members of the Cabinet. Everyone will come to the special cabinet meeting after reading the report and participate in the discussion,” he said.
The report was formally submitted to the Cabinet on Thursday.
According to sources quoted by The New Indian Express, key ministers from SC communities — including Social Welfare Minister Dr HC Mahadevappa, Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, Food and Civil Supplies Minister KH Muniyappa, Excise Minister RB Thimmapur, RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge, and Backward Classes Development Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi — have so far refrained from speaking much about the report.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged the ministers to thoroughly review the report before the meeting and return prepared for a constructive debate in the special Cabinet.
The Congress government faces mounting pressure from the leadership of the SC Left community, which has long demanded internal reservations. The push for implementation intensified after the Supreme Court, on August 1, 2024, ruled that states are constitutionally empowered to sub-classify SC quotas.
However, leaders from Bhovi and Lambani communities have cautioned against hasty implementation. The government is expected to take a decision, especially as recruitment processes remain stalled pending sub-classification of the SC quota.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
