Karnataka Govt Halts Bill on Job Reservation

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has temporarily paused the implementation of a controversial bill mandating job reservations for Kannadigas in private sector firms, opting for further study and comprehensive discussion. The bill, cleared on Monday, proposes that companies in the state’s IT hub prioritize local hires for 70 percent of non-management roles and 50 percent of management-level positions.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took to social media platform X to announce that the bill, which aims to implement reservation for Kannadigas in private sector institutions, industries, and enterprises, is still under preparation. “A final decision will be taken after comprehensive discussion in the next cabinet meeting,” he posted.

This proposal, introduced by the Chief Minister on Tuesday evening, aims to ensure that “Kannadigas get an opportunity to lead a comfortable life in the motherland… and avoid being deprived of jobs in the land of Kannada.” However, Siddaramaiah’s initial post indicated that the bill mandated 100 percent reservation at certain levels, a statement which was later clarified.

The announcement sparked immediate backlash, with notable business figures like Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and opposition leaders from the BJP criticizing the Congress government. Despite the outcry, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, MoS for Social Justice and Empowerment, expressed support for the measure, citing its potential benefits for backward classes including OBCs, SCs, and STs.

Amid the controversy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s post was deleted following a clarification from Labour Minister Santosh Lad. Lad confirmed the proposed quotas: 50 percent at the management level and 70 percent at the non-management level. He also stated that if companies are unable to find suitable skilled candidates from within the state, they could hire from outside Karnataka.

Drafted by the Labour Department, the bill claims that jobs are predominantly being secured by individuals from northern states who subsequently settle in Karnataka. It suggests that Karnataka-based companies benefiting from state-provided infrastructure should reserve jobs for locals.