The State government is learnt to have promised a delegation of Scheduled Tribe leaders to take an all-party delegation to the Centre to urge the Union government to insert the 56% reservation matrix in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has assured our delegation that an all-party meeting would be convened to discuss the issue and that he will take an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring pressure to insert legislation providing 56% reservation in the Ninth Schedule,” said V.S. Ugrappa, the former MP who led the delegation of Samana Manaskara Vedike of the Valmiki community in the State.

The reservation for ST in Karnataka has been reverted to 3% from 7% to overcome legal hurdles, though 7% reservation had been provided in proportion to the population of the 51 Scheduled Tribes in the State.

Mr. Ugrappa said the government has been convinced to get the stay on 56% reservation by the Karnataka High Court vacated through a dedicated team of legal experts as early as possible. “Mr. Siddaramaiah has directed officials to take up the legal matter seriously. Filing of special leave petition in the Supreme Court was also discussed,” he said. The delegation has also urged the Chief Minister to convene a meeting of leaders from the community to discuss the issue, he added.