The Karnataka Assembly on March 22 pushed for an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements ( KTPP) Act. The freshly passed act, has a 4% reservation provision for the Muslim community in government contracts. The Bill was first tabled on March 7. The Bill received heat from the Leader of Opposition, R Ashoka, calling it “unconstitutional” in nature. The earlier proposed bill now to be an act was one of the promises in the Budget of 2025. The Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister , H K Patil initiated and presented this bill in the Assembly. Karnataka Governor , Thaawarchand Gehlot , reserved this bill for President’s assent.
Reportedly, the governor sent the earlier reserved bill to the Law and Parliamentary affairs department , who thereby would forward the bill to the President to get her approval. The governor expressed discontent with the nature and content of the bill , describing it as “unconstitutional.” He took to the living and breathing document- Article 14( Right to Equality), Article 15(protection against discrimination) and Article 16( equality of opportunity in the matters of public employment) to prove that constitution do not permit reservation on the basis of religion. He said “Supreme Court has consistently in various judgements ruled that affirmative action must be based on social and educational backwardness, not religious identity.
The governor justified his action to pass the bill for consideration of the President as a constitutional mandate under Article 200 and 201. He also referred to a 2003 judgement of Supreme Court, in Saurabh Chaudri Vs Union of India, where the top court observed that affirmative action is permissible only on the basis of economic and social backwardness and not religion. 24% of SC/STs and 19% of OBC enjoyed this guarantee until now, this bill aims to broaden the beneficiaries including the Muslim community.
The bill was passed by both the houses on March 21, amid protests and dissent by the Opposition BJP. Some BJP leaders overpowered by their emotions, stood on the podium of the sitting Speaker, UT Khader and tore the bill in half. This misdemeanour led to the suspension of 18 BJP legislators. Siddaramai’s and the ruling Congresses ‘ is accused across the board of practising dangerous appeasement politics.
