Bengaluru, Aug 6 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court has issued notice to the State Government on a petition challenging the Cabinet's decision to implement internal reservation among Scheduled Castes based on the Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission report.
A single-judge Bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj, while hearing the petition filed by Khem Singh, General Secretary of the Judo Banjara Foundation (R), directed notices to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, the State Commission for Scheduled Castes and other respondents.
The court also ordered that the interim directions passed in an earlier connected matter on October 16, 2025, would apply to the present petition. Under the interim order, recruitment processes may continue, but final appointment orders cannot be issued until further orders.
The petition challenges the Cabinet decision taken on August 19, 2025, concerning the classification of 101 Scheduled Castes and the implementation of internal reservation in the state.
According to the petitioner, the classification earmarks 20 per cent reservation for 59 of the most backward Scheduled Castes while allocating the remaining 80 per cent to four other Scheduled Castes. It contends that the classification is arbitrary, violative of the principles of natural justice and unconstitutional.
The plea further argues that the power to specify, modify or include communities in the Scheduled Castes list rests exclusively with the President under the Constitution and that the State Government lacks the authority to alter such classifications. It has sought quashing of the Cabinet decision and subsequent government notifications implementing the policy.
The petitioner has also requested the court to direct the government to conduct recruitment in accordance with the reservation framework that existed prior to December 28, 2022.
After a preliminary hearing, the court adjourned the matter to September 1 for further consideration.
UNI BDN