Karnataka’s Big Move Backing Reservation For Locals In Private Sector Draws Backlash

In a bold yet controversial move, the Karnataka cabinet recently approved a bill mandating 100 percent reservation for Kannadigas, or local residents, in C and D grade posts in private industries. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the decision on social media, only to delete the post following severe backlash from industry leaders. However, he later reaffirmed the government’s stance by reposting the announcement on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.

A Pro-Kannada Stance

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah emphasized the Congress-led government’s commitment to prioritizing local residents. He stated that the decision was made to provide more jobs and opportunities to Kannadigas, reinforcing the state’s “pro-Kannada” agenda. “The cabinet meeting held on Monday approved the bill to fix 50% reservation for administrative posts and 75% for non-administrative posts for Kannadigas in private industries and other organizations of the state. It is our government’s wish that the Kannadigas should avoid being deprived of jobs in the land of Kannada and should be given an opportunity to build a comfortable life in the motherland. We are a pro-Kannada government. Our priority is to look after the welfare of the Kannadigas,” Siddaramaiah said on X.

State IT minister Priyank Kharge called for wider consultations with industry experts and other departments before implementing the bill. “There’s no need to panic, we will have wider consultations and arrive at a common ground,” he assured, aiming to balance job provision for locals and maintaining investment inflows.

Industry Backlash

The proposed bill has sparked significant opposition from various industry leaders. CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas criticized the bill as discriminatory and poorly conceived. “Bengaluru was not built by Kannadigas alone, it was built by everybody. You cannot make such discriminatory decisions. This will provoke a flight of companies, drive away investors, and ultimately harm Kannadigas in the long run,” Brittas told news media.

Biocon executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw voiced concerns about the impact on Karnataka’s status as a tech hub. She urged that highly skilled recruitment should be exempt from this policy. “As a tech hub we need skilled talent and whilst the aim is to provide jobs for locals we must not affect our leading position in technology by this move. There must be caveats that exempt highly skilled recruitment from this policy,” Shaw wrote on X.

Former Infosys executive Mohandas Pai labeled the bill as unconstitutional, discriminatory, and regressive. “This bill should be junked. It is discriminatory, regressive and against the constitution. This is a fascist bill as in Animal Farm, unbelievable that the government can come up with a bill like this- a govt officer will sit on recruitment committees of private sector? People have to take a language test?” Pai stated on X.

Political and Activist Reactions

Jayant Chaudhary of the National Democratic Alliance called the reservation policy “regressive and bad economics,” asserting that such measures violate the constitutional rights of all Indians.

Conversely, pro-Kannada activists have supported the bill, dismissing criticisms as baseless. Activist Chethan Jeeral defended the decision, stating that it would provide necessary opportunities for Kannadigas without compromising on talent quality. “This bill provides a cushioning effect for Kannadigas. It doesn’t mean that any Tom, Dick, or Harry on the street would be appointed for the job,” Jeeral argued.

Key Provisions of the Bill

The bill stipulates that private industries must reserve 50 percent of administrative posts and 75 percent of non-administrative posts for local candidates. Candidates without a secondary school certificate in Kannada must pass a proficiency test as specified by the Nodal Agency.

Industries are expected to collaborate with the government to train local candidates within three years if qualified individuals are unavailable. Establishments can apply for relaxation from the bill’s provisions if sufficient local candidates are not found, but the relaxation cannot reduce reservation below 25 percent for management roles and 50 percent for non-management roles.

The bill mandates compliance reporting to a nodal agency, which will verify and enforce the provisions. Penalties for non-compliance range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000, with additional fines for continued violations.

Conclusion

Karnataka’s ambitious reservation bill aims to empower local residents and enhance job opportunities for Kannadigas. However, it has ignited a heated debate about its potential impact on the state’s economic landscape and constitutionality. As discussions continue, the government must navigate these concerns to find a balanced solution that benefits both local job seekers and the broader business community.