Karnataka Job Reservation Uproar: Â After Haryana, now Karnataka is also preparing to implement the rule of recruiting only local people in private companies. The cabinet led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has approved the cabinet note to give jobs only to Kannada speaking people in private companies established in the state. With this, the state government has taken steps towards implementing 100 percent reservation in Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gave this information through social media. However, later he deleted his tweet.
The decision to give 100% reservation to local people in Group C and D in private companies in Karnataka has become controversial. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced this on July 16. Within 24 hours, he removed the post on social media regarding the 100% quota bill.
Commerce and Industry Minister MB Patil explained about this in detail on the social media platform. MB Patil wrote, India is now moving towards manufacturing and industrial revolution under the China Plus One policy. In this era of competition, states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana are making their best contribution. It is the responsibility of all the states to participate in this. In such a situation, keeping in mind the interests of Kannada speakers, we discussed this with the Chief Minister. Let us tell you that the case of Haryana is still pending in the court.
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Karnataka Job Reservation Uproar: Commerce Minister Says – No impact on industries!
Commerce Minister said that this issue was discussed in great detail and then it was decided to implement 100 percent reservation. I want to assure that this decision will protect the interests of Kannada speaking people. Also, there will be no impact on the industry. Karnataka is a very progressive state and we cannot take the chance of losing industrialization here for the next 100 years. I want to assure the industries that they need not be afraid of this decision.
Actually, Siddaramaiah cabinet has prepared rules for this. The bill has also been passed by the cabinet. It will be presented in the assembly on July 18. However, even before that, big industries have protested against it.
Two conditions for companies
1- According to the bill, if qualified local candidates are not available, companies should take steps to train them within 3 years with the help of the government or its agencies. However, a condition has also been added that if qualified candidates are not available, then companies can apply to the government for exemption in the provisions of this rule.
2- The nodal agency of the government will be able to check the records of the employees working in the company and obtain information about the staff. If any company violates these provisions, then a fine can be imposed on the company.
Industrial houses unhappy with the government’s decision
Industrial houses have expressed their unhappiness over the Karnataka government’s decision to provide reservation in private companies. They say that this bill will increase discrimination and may harm the industries.
Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Manipal Global Education Services, called the bill unconstitutional. He said- Instead of making reservation mandatory, the government should spend more on skill development and higher education. More investment should be made on training programs and internships to enable Kannadigas to get jobs.
Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw said the bill should not impact Karnataka’s status as a leader in the technology field.
NASSCOM appeals to Karnataka government to withdraw the bill
Tech company NASSCOM says that after the bill is passed, there is a danger of companies leaving the state. Companies will be forced to leave in search of better talent. Also, jobs and Karnataka’s brand will be affected. Difficulties will increase for startup companies.
Legal analysts believe that like Haryana, Karnataka’s reservation case will also get stuck in court
Haryana government had also implemented a rule of giving 70% reservation to the people of the state on posts with salary less than 30 thousand, which has been stayed by Chandigarh High Court for now. Experts say that this type of reservation violates the fundamental rights of the constitution and violates Article 35. It is obvious that Karnataka government’s decision can also get stuck in court.
20% non-Kannada population works in Karnataka
20% non-Kannada population works in Karnataka. The number of non-Kannada employees in Bangalore companies is estimated to be 35%. Most of them are from North India, Andhra and Maharashtra. According to the 2011 census, 50% of the total population of Bangalore city is non-Kannada speaking. Recently, a long debate was also held in Bangalore on the compulsory use of Kannada language, after which signboards with names written in Hindi were broken.
What is the definition of a local?
The Karnataka government’s bill defines a local. According to the bill, a local is one who is born in Karnataka, has been living in the state for 15 years and is able to speak, read and write Kannada fluently.
So far 6 states have announced 75% reservation… but it has not been fully implemented anywhere
Karnataka has already announced reservation in private jobs. Apart from these, Haryana, Jharkhand, MP, Andhra and Maharashtra have also made similar announcements. These states have also announced 75% reservation for local people in private jobs, but it has not been fully implemented in any state.
All these announcements are stuck in the court somewhere, and somewhere no work has been done on them. The Jharkhand government had said that from January 2023, it will be mandatory to employ local people in 75% of the posts with monthly salary up to 40 thousand in private companies. This will be applicable to all companies with more than 10 employees. A fine of Rs 5 lakh will be imposed for violation.
The constitution gives the right to equality…
The Supreme Court said in a judgment, ‘Reservation given on the basis of place of residence does not violate Article 15 because there is a difference between ‘place of birth’ and ‘place of residence’. Articles 15 (1) and 15 (2) prohibit any discrimination on the basis of place of birth, not place of residence.’
The Punjab-Haryana High Court had stayed the reservation of 75% for local people in private jobs by the Haryana government, but later gave relief. But the case is still pending.
According to legal experts, the court will have to decide a rational limit for reservation so that there is a balance between the rights of both locals and outsiders.
