Will pass law for SC/ST quota hike ordinance in next Assembly session: CM Bommai
Hubballi (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said his government will take every measure to offer legal protection to the ordinance increasing the reservation for SCs and STs in educational institutions and government jobs.
The ordinance increasing the reservation for Scheduled Castes from 15 per cent to 17 per cent and Scheduled Tribes from 3 per cent to 7 per cent, got Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot's assent on Sunday.
After it was approved by the Governor, it was made public through a gazette notification.
The gazette notification said the number of castes increased drastically after the inclusion of some more communities. The total population of SCs and STs in the state went up by leaps and bounds, it added.
"There is a need to get approval of both the Houses, which we will do in the next (Assembly) session," Bommai said.
Regarding a few other recommendations on reservation, the Chief Minister said those proposals are pending before various commissions. Once the report comes, the government will take action, he added.
Bommai declined to comment on the possibility of removing or adding communities from the reservation categories saying that such decisions have to be taken within the framework of law and the Constitution.
The Karnataka government brought the ordinance for SCs and STs in accordance with the Justice Nagamohan Das Committee recommendation to increase the quota.
The move is seen as an attempt by the BJP government in Karnataka to woo the SC/ST communities ahead of assembly elections, which are about six months away.
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12 cases filed for pro-Pakistan slogans in 3 years, says Parameshwara
Belagavi: Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Thursday told the Legislative Council that the Karnataka government has registered 12 cases in the last three years against individuals accused of shouting pro-Pakistan slogans. Six of these were suo motu cases filed by the police.
According to a report published by Deccan Herald, he said, of the 12 cases, charge sheet has been submitted in five cases. ‘B’ report has been filed in two cases, three cases are under investigation, C report filed in one case while a forensic lab report is pending in one case.
Responding to another question raised by JD(S) member T A Sharavana, the Home Minister urged members not to single out the entire police force based on a few incidents involving police personnel committing criminal acts.
“It is not that the police are doing nothing. There is peace in society because police are active. Compared to other states, the crime rate is less in Karnataka,” DH quoted the home minister as saying.
Parameshwara also informed the House that there are recommendations to dismiss police officials who have been found involved in criminal activities.
