Karnataka panel submits final report on reservation, no mention of Panchamasali Lingayats

The Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes (KSCBC) has submitted its final report to the government relating to various Backward Classes who have been demanding more reservation or reclassification. The commission made 34 recommendations in its report.

K Jayaprakash Hegde, Chairman of the commission, said the panel has recommended reservations for orphans and remote castes like Dommara and Mukkani. However, there is no mention of a reservation for Panchamasali Lingayats or Vokkaligas.

The report also mentions reservations for 46 remote communities. Pomar, a community with a total population of less than 300, has been identified and recommended for reservation. Similarly, Mukhari, a community with just over 1,000 members, has also made it to the report.

Seer Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya, on the exclusion of Lingayats from the reservation recommendations, said the community will hold a yatra (march) in all 224 constituencies.

“We will spread information on who betrayed us and who supported us. While we are protesting in the sun, they are sitting in AC rooms with the votes that we gave. If Yediurappa and Bommai were real Lingayats, they would have listened to our request. We are disappointed and angry,” the seer said.

Members from the Panchamasali-Lingayat community are also planning to contest as independent candidates in 52 seats in the upcoming Assembly election.

Panchamasali Lingayats, a sub-sect of the dominant Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, wants to be included in category 2A (15 per cent) of the OBC reservation matrix.

They had rejected the state government’s offer to include the community in the new 2D category of reservation and have stuck to their demand for inclusion in 2A category.

Karnataka has four categories of OBC: 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B based on economic, social and educational status. These communities get preferential reservation in jobs and educational institutions based on the categories. While 2A are the most backward, 2B are moderate, and little above them are 3A and 3B.

The two dominant communities — Vokkaliga and Panchamasalis — which are in 3A and 3B category, have been demanding reservations under 2A status, and the government decided to abolish 3A and 3B categories. The government then decided to create two new categories of 2C and 2D. Those who are presently 3A and 3B would now find place in 2C and 2D.