Chief Minister D.K .Shivakumar at a press conference after the SCP/TSP council meeting on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: special arrangement
After the High Court of Karnataka quashed 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, the State government will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include the enhanced reservation for SCs and STs in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.
“A letter will be sent to the Prime Minister in this regard. If a meeting with the Prime Minister is possible, this matter will be discussed,” Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar told presspersons after chairing the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Council meeting on Thursday.
“The matter came up for discussion during a meeting of legislators and Ministers from the SC and ST communities,” said the Chief Minister.
On the Special Leave Petition filed in the Supreme Court against the Karnataka High Court order, he said the responsibility of deciding who should argue on behalf of the State in this legal battle and monitoring the case has been given to Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, Ministers Satish Jarkiholi, and K.H. Muniyappa. “We are confident of getting justice in the Supreme Court,” he said.
Social audit on impact
He also said that a vision group would be constituted to decide on the contours of new programmes to be implemented for the welfare of the communities. The Chief Minister said that a Cabinet sub-committee has been formed under the leadership of Mr. Parameshwara and preparations are under way to implement the programmes announced in the party manifesto.
“Our leaders have pointed out that certain schemes are overlapping. It has been decided to get a social audit conducted by reputed institutions to study the impact of grants provided through SCSP/ TSP programmes,” he said.
Following suggestions by legislators and Ministers from these communities on new schemes and ideas at a meeting with the Chief Minister on Thursday, deliberations will be held under the chairmanship of Mr. Parameshwara for two days. Discussions will be held with the Finance Department on whether any changes can be made before submitting a report to the government.
“It is our government’s intention that ₹44,631 crore allocated for SCSP/ TSP scheme should reach the beneficiaries. The government has also decided to hold a convention of SCs and STs to inform people about the promises we made before the elections and what has been fulfilled. The leaders will decide on the venue,” Mr. Shivakumar said.
Pending Central grants
The State government will also write to the Centre, requesting release of ₹1,937 crore that is pending for 2025-2026 under Centrally-sponsored schemes. Of the total Central share of ₹3,497 crore, the State has received ₹1,560 crore. While the Centre did not release grants, the State had also not released grants, resulting in a setback in implementation of several schemes. The Finance Department has now been asked to release the grants irrespective of grants received from the Centre.
New look school uniforms
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday said that the government has instructed the Education Department to provide new look to hostels and school uniforms. “We implement these from next year. Let the government school children wear good uniforms just like those in private schools. If that requires a little extra money, we will provide it,” he said.
Published – November 13, 2026 01:46 am IST
