The Karnataka government has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict that quashed the increase in reservation for Scheduled Castes from 15 per cent to 17 per cent and for Scheduled Tribes from 3 per cent to 7 per cent, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office on Wednesday, November 11.

Source: IANS via The Freedom Press

The Chief Minister's Office said approval to appeal was granted through a government order dated October 27 and the petition was filed on October 28. The state Cabinet had decided on October 15 to challenge the verdict, and the government said the SLP was submitted within 16 days of the High Court ruling.

Source: IANS via The Freedom Press

The High Court held that consultation with the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was mandatory before the quota was enhanced, and that letters sent to the commissions after the law had been enacted did not fulfil that requirement, the government statement said. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara told reporters on Wednesday that the High Court had held that reservation could not exceed the 50 per cent ceiling, and that the state would now await the Supreme Court's decision.

Source: NewKerala

To protect candidates while the case is decided, the government said an additional 6 per cent of posts meant for SC and ST candidates has been placed under a backlog arrangement across 56,432 recruitment posts approved in February 2026, so that candidates do not lose their share pending the final verdict.

Source: IANS via The Freedom Press

The government said it would pursue both the legal battle in the Supreme Court and efforts to secure constitutional protection for the enhanced quota in coordination with the Centre. It noted that the Karnataka Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution on December 18, 2025 seeking protection for the hike under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, and Parameshwara pointed to Tamil Nadu's 69 per cent reservation, which is protected under the Ninth Schedule.

Source: Nation Press

The quota hike was first introduced in October 2022 by the previous BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai, following the recommendations of the Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission. With 32 per cent reservation already in place for Other Backward Classes, the increase had taken Karnataka's total reservation from 50 per cent to 56 per cent. Parameshwara said the reservation dispute had added to uncertainty in government recruitment, which the backlog arrangement is meant to ease until the Supreme Court rules.

Source: NewKerala