Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday met Jayamruthyunjaya Swamiji of the Panchamasali community over matters concerning reservation.
To requests for reservation, the CM said a decision will be taken according to the law and the framework of the Constitution. The Panchamasali Lingayat community is seeking reservation under Category-2A of the Constitution of India.
“Our government is open-minded on the matter of reservation. It stands for social justice, and it is our belief that justice should be given to all weaker sections of society,” he said.
“There is a permanent Backward Classes Commission. Its final recommendation is, however, yet to reach us. Since there is an election code of conduct currently in place, the reservation issue will have to be discussed with the Advocate-General, Law Department, experts, and only then can action be taken in the Cabinet. No decision can be taken now,” he affirmed.
The CM also said, “I had suggested earlier when the community leaders met me that a proposal be submitted before the Permanent Backward Classes Commission on reservation and action be taken on its recommendations. Any decision taken should be fair and agreeable to all, and should also be agreeable to the court.”
Siddaramaiah said that the previous government had created new categories – 2C and 2D – at the community’s request.
“They added the ones in category 3A to 2C. Lingayats in category 3B were proposed to be included in 2D. Muslim reservation was also removed. When Muslims challenged this in the Supreme Court, the state government agreed to continue the status quo. The case is still in court,” he said.
