NCBC raises objections over Karnataka’s blanket Muslim backward category.
The National Commission for Backward Classes has criticized the Karnataka government’s move to list the entire Muslim community as a backward class for reservation benefits.
While examining the state’s OBC policy in education and jobs, NCBC contended such categorization undermines social justice principles.
As per data, Karnataka has listed all Muslim castes under the backward category to provide a 17% quota. However, NCBC said this overlooks diversity within the community.
While acknowledging the existence of marginalized Muslim sections, the panel stressed treating the religion as homogeneous ignores complexities. Such religion-based benefits work against downtrodden Muslim castes entitled to quotas, it observed.
NCBC also flagged concerns over the policy’s impact on the social justice framework, particularly in local polls where the state offers 32% quotas, including for Muslims.
It emphasized the need for a nuanced approach to accounting for variations within communities, given that Muslims comprise 12.92% of Karnataka, according to Census 2011 data.
The commission has urged the state to reconsider its blanket reservation stance in order to comply with constitutional principles of equitable social empowerment.
