Karnataka High Court has quashed the state's decision to raise quota for SCs and STs to 17 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively.

The Karnataka High Court has struck down the state's 2022 increase in SC and ST reservation. The ruling revives the 50 per cent quota ceiling debate as the government weighs an appeal.

The High Court of Karnataka on Monday said that the Constitution mandates “adequate representation”, not “proportionate representation”, while observing that “the fundamental premise that reservation for backward classes must be in proportion to their population is erroneous.”

The Karnataka High Court struck down the state's enhanced SC and ST reservation law for breaching the 50% ceiling. The ruling also held that prior consultation with the national commissions was mandatory and had not taken place.

Karnataka High Court strikes down 2022 law boosting SC/ST reservations, upholding 50% ceiling as a binding constitutional limit.