K'taka guv refers 4% Muslim quota bill for President's assent

Bengaluru: Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot has reserved the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2025 —which proposes a 4% reservation for Muslims in govt civic contracts —for President's assent, citing potential constitutional hurdles.

Raj Bhavan sources confirmed the governor's decision followed a request from the opposition BJP, which argued that the Constitution does not allow quota based on religion.

The bill, passed by the legislature last month, seeks to extend a 4% quota to Muslims for govt construction works contracts valued up to Rs 1 crore.

In a formal communication to the state govt, governor Gehlot reportedly wrote, "The Constitution of India does not permit reservation based on religion, as it violates the principles of equality (Article 14), non-discrimination (Article 15) and equal opportunity in public employment (Article 16)." He cited the Supreme Court's consistent view on the matter.

Sources said the governor has sent the bill back to the state govt with a note that it has been reserved for the President's consideration. "The govt has just received the bill sent by Raj Bhavan. The parliamentary affairs ministry will study the governor's recommendation and legal provisions related to the issue before deciding on sending the bill to the President and take legal recourse," said a senior official.

The bill escalated political tensions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a rally in Haryana earlier this week, hit out at the Congress, alleging that reservation in tenders based on religion amounts to "snatching" the rights of SCs, STs, and OBCs.

The controversy has further deepened with the recent leak of the caste census data. The socioeconomic and educational survey—presented to the Karnataka cabinet last week—has reportedly projected the Muslim population in the state at 75.5 lakh and recommended doubling the OBC quota for the community to 8%.

A special cabinet meeting has been scheduled for Thursday to discuss the caste census, adding another dimension to the already intensifying debate over religion-based reservation.