Raichur MP G. Kumar Naik has welcomed the Union government acknowledging that the proposal to include the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Reservation Act in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution is under examination.

In a press release issued here on Tuesday, Mr. Naik said that inclusion of the Karnataka SCs, STs Reservation Act in the Ninth Schedule is crucial to protect the Constitutional safeguards provided to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

“I welcome the Union government acknowledging that the matter is under examination and I will continue to strongly pursue this issue until adequate Constitutional protection is ensured,” he said.

Mr. Naik’s response came after Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar, in a written communication on May 8, informed him that the proposal submitted by the State government has been received by the department and it is presently under examination.

The Union Minister stated in the letter that the matter has been taken up with the Ministry of Home Affairs to obtain updated inputs regarding the present legal status of the Act, including details of judicial proceedings related to its validity. A reminder has also been issued recently to expedite the process, the letter said.

According to the communication, the issue involved important Constitutional and legal considerations and therefore, required careful inter-ministerial examination before a considered view can be taken. The Union government also promised that concerns regarding strengthening reservation safeguards for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be kept in view while examining the proposal.

Earlier, six Congress Lok Sabha Members from the State, G. Kumar Naik, E. Tukaram, Priyanka Satish Jarkiholi, Rajashekhar Hitnal, Prabha Mallikarjun and Sunil Bose, jointly urged the Centre to include the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Act 2022 in the Ninth Schedule.

The MPs argued that inclusion of legislation under Articles 31(B) and 31(C) of the Constitution is necessary to protect the enhanced reservation policy from legal challenges and ensure effective implementation of reservation benefits for SCs, STs in the State.

“I also raised the issue during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha on April 2 and later, followed it up through a Private Member Resolution in Parliament, stressing the urgent need for the Union government to act swiftly in order to protect the Constitutional rights and representation of SCs, STs in the State,” he said.