Tribal Leaders Demand Action on Reservation Law in Karnataka

A tribal group in Karnataka has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to advocate for the inclusion of a 56% reservation for SC, ST, and OBC communities in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. The recent stay by the Karnataka High Court has thwarted progress, prompting calls for urgent government action.

The Karnataka Rajya Valmiki Samajada Samana Manaskara Vedike, a tribal body, has called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to pressure both the state and Centre to include a 56% reservation for SC, ST, and OBC communities in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. This request follows a recent stay by the Karnataka High Court on the law, hindering social justice efforts.

Led by former Congress MP V S Ugrappa, the tribal body has urged state and central officials to champion this cause. In December 2025, a resolution was passed during the Belagavi session to push this inclusion, yet progress has stalled, drawing criticism from tribal leaders.

The group has accused both state and central governments of delaying the process and raised concerns about false SC and ST caste certificates being used to obtain benefits. The Vedike has called for an all-party meeting and a delegation led by the Chief Minister to address this urgent matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.