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Karnataka High Court Quashes 2022 Reservation Law, Sets Appeal Plan

By Drooid · Oct 13, 2026, 4:24 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Karnataka High Court struck down the 2022 reservation law for exceeding the 50% ceiling.
Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K S Hemalekha declared Sections 3 and 4 unconstitutional.
The act raised SC quota to 17% and ST quota to 7%, pushing total reservation to 56%.
Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara called the decision serious, announcing Karnataka will consider a Supreme Court appeal.

History

Historical Context

India’s reservation system began in 1950 and expanded after the 1979 Mandal Commission, which led to the Supreme Court’s 1992 Indra Sawhney ruling that total quotas cannot exceed 50 percent. In 2022 Karnataka raised quotas to 56 percent, but the Karnataka High Court, led by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru, struck the law, reaffirming the 50 percent ceiling.

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Story summary

Karnataka High Court struck down the 2022 reservation law for exceeding the 50% ceiling.
Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K S Hemalekha declared Sections 3 and 4 unconstitutional.
The act raised SC quota to 17% and ST quota to 7%, pushing total reservation to 56%.
Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara called the decision serious, announcing Karnataka will consider a Supreme Court appeal.

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