Karnataka Government Slammed For Blanket Categorisation Of Entire Muslim Community In State As Backward Caste

The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has slammed the Karnataka Congress government's decision to categorise the entire Muslim community as a backward caste for reservation purposes in the state.

The panel said that such blanket categorisation undermines the principles of social justice.

"As per the data from Karnataka government, all castes and communities of Muslims of Karnataka have been included in the list of OBCs for reservation in employment and educational institutions under the state govt. Under Category II-B, all Muslims of Karnataka state have been considered as OBC," the NCBC said, news agency ANI reported.

During a field visit last year, the NCBC examined the state's reservation policy for OBCs in educational institutions and government jobs.

"All castes/communities of 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 the purpose of Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India," the NCBC said in a statement on Monday (21 April) night, news agency PTI reported.

This categorisation 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.

The NCBC said the blanket categorisation of Muslims as a backward caste undermines the principles of social justice, particularly for the marginalised Muslim castes and communities identified as socially and educationally backward.

While acknowledging the existence of underprivileged and historically marginalized groups within the Muslim community, the NCBC pointed out that applying this designation to the entire religious group fails to recognise the diversity and intricacies within Muslim society.

"The religion-based reservation affects and works against ethics of social justice for categorically downtrodden Muslim castes/communities and identified socially and educationally backward Muslim castes/communities under Category-I and Category II-A of State List of Backward Classes. Hence, socially and educationally backward castes/communities cannot be treated at par with an entire religion," the NCBC stated.

The BJP has slammed the Karnataka Congress decision, saying it will cut into reservation meant for Hindu OBCs.

In a post on X, BJP IT cell head Amit Malaviya said, "In another shocking development, Karnataka Govt has categorised the entire Muslim community as backward class. The National Commission for Backward classes has denounced the decision of the Congress Govt. It means that Muslims will now cut into reservation meant for Hindu OBCs, in gross violation of India’s Constitution. West Bengal has also done it and the matter is subjudice".

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