The State government will seek legal opinion on the pros and cons of implementing A.J. Sadashiva Commission report on internal reservation among Scheduled Castes. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of Dalit leaders called by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday.
Two sections of the Dalit community have been at loggerheads over whether or not there should be internal reservation, and the issue has hotted-up in the run-up to the Assembly elections.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya said that after taking legal opinion, a meeting would be called again with the Dalit leaders before placing the subject in the Cabinet. “We are keen on implementing the report. There was confusion among some communities, including Bhovi and Lambani, that their names would be removed from the reservation list. But the Chief Minister has clarified that no such thing will happen. It was unanimously decided to seek legal opinion,” the Minister said.
Sources said that some Dalit leaders expressed displeasure that the commission had recommended higher reservation for certain communities. They wanted Mr. Siddaramaiah to set this right. Responding to this, the Chief Minister assured that no community will be hit with the implementation of the report. Following this, the leaders arrived at a consensus over getting legal opinion.
On Sunday too, Mr. Siddaramaiah had convened a meeting to discuss the issue. However, the meeting was inconclusive and it was decided that he would take a final call on the issue.
The commission, which looked into methods of equitable distribution of reservation facilities among SCs, had submitted the report in June 2012 to then Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, while reclassifying all 101 castes into four groups. It had prescribed quantum of reservation based on the extent of discrimination faced and backwardness.
It had also asked the government to take up the matter with the Centre, as providing internal reservation within the 15% quota provided to SCs required amendments to the law. Though a section of Dalits demanded early implementation of the report, some opposed it.
