President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to a bill aimed at safeguarding the reservation in promotions to the Scheduled Casts and Schedule Tribes (SC/STs) in government jobs in Karnataka.
The President gave his assent to the Karnataka Extension of Consequential Seniority to Government Servants Promoted on the basis of Reservation (to the post in the civil services of the State) Bill, 2017 on Thursday. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the notification on Friday.
Karnataka has had reservation in promotions for the SC/ST employees since 1978---15% for the SCs and 3% for the STs.
The Supreme Court in its order on February 9, 2017 struck down reservation in promotions for the SC/ST employees and sought reasons for providing such promotions.
To ensure reservation in promotion to the SC/ST employees, the state legislature had unanimously passed a bill on November 17 last year. The bill was sent to the President of India for assent.
The issue had severe political implications in Karnataka where Dalit groups have been demanding the government to explore ways to protect their interest.