The Karnataka government’s decision to categorise the entire Muslim community as a backward caste for reservation purposes in the state has drawn criticism from the National Commission for Backward Classes, which said such blanket categorization undermines the principles of social justice.
As per the data submitted by the Karnataka Backward Classes Welfare Department, all castes and communities within the Muslim religion have been enlisted as socially and educationally backward classes under Category IIB in the State List of Backward Classes.
The NCBC, during a field visit last year, examined the state’s reservation policy for OBCs in educational institutions and government jobs.
‘All castes/communities of the Muslim religion of Karnataka are being treated as socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and listed as Muslim Caste separately under Category IIB in the State List of Backward Classes for providing them reservation in admission into educational institutions and in appointments to posts and vacancies in the services of the State for Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India’.
This categorization has led to the provision of reservation benefits for 17 socially and educationally backward castes under Category I and 19 castes under Category II-A respectively.
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