Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has raised constitutional objections over the recently passed ‘Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill’, which proposed a 4% reservation for Muslims in government contracts. The Governor has forwarded the bill to President Droupadi Murmu for her approval, citing that the Constitution does not permit reservation based on religion—a point that has sparked debate among constitutional experts.
The bill aimed to provide a 4% quota for Muslims in public procurement contracts. The Governor argued that such provisions contradict the Indian Constitution, which prohibits preferential treatment based on religion, caste, or race. He emphasized that the state government’s move may amount to a violation of constitutional norms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly criticized the bill, calling it an attack on the rights of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). He accused the Karnataka government of favoring a particular religious community under the guise of welfare.
In response, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar defended the bill, asserting that the government’s objective is to uplift economically weaker sections, not to sideline any community. He clarified that the bill is intended to bring disadvantaged groups into the mainstream and ensure equal opportunities for all.
