Karnataka HC bars govt. from civil services appointments based on revised SC sub-classification

The High Court of Karnataka has restrained the State authorities from making appointments to the State civilian services based connected the August 25, 2025, notification of revised sub-classification of Scheduled Caste (SC) communities into 3 groups and organisation of percent of reservation.

However, the tribunal said the process of recruitment to assorted posts could spell connected but assignment cannot beryllium made based connected specified process.

Interim order

Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the interim bid connected a petition filed by Confederation of Untouchable Nomadic Communities of Karnataka, Bengaluru, and others belonging to nomadic and semi-nomadic castes nether SC communities.

While terming the sub-categorisation of SC communities by the State authorities arsenic “unscientific, irrational and without capable determining principles”, the petitioners said that the authorities divided assorted SC communities into 3 groups arsenic against 5 groups recommended by a retired High Court judge-headed commission, which had surveyed SC communities earlier this year.

“The State authorities came up with its ain look without adhering to the recommendations of the commission. The nomadic communities to which petitioners beryllium to are placed astatine Group-C with 5% reservation, beneath the Group-A and Group-B successful which precocious homogeneous communities, to whom preservation of 6% each has been provided successful the August 25, 2025 notification,” the petitioners contended.

They besides pointed retired that sub-classification of SC by the State authorities amounts to grouping astir backward communities with the little backward communities among SCs.

‘Defeated objective’

Irrational sub-classification of SC communities by the State authorities has defeated the precise entity of sub-classification, which was meant to springiness preferential attraction to the astir downtrodden of people among the SCs, the petitioners person complained portion pointing retired that nary ground is forthcoming for 101 SC communities into 3 groups and distributing full 17% preservation to these groups.

The petitioners person sought a absorption from the tribunal to quash the August 25, 2025 notification portion terming it contrary to assorted judgments of the apex court.