Context:
Recently, the Panchamasali Lingayats, a sub-caste within Karnataka’s dominant Lingayat community, have been demanding inclusion in Category 2A of the Other Backward Classes (OBC).
- This move aims to secure a 15% quota in government jobs and educational admissions. The current quota for the community is 5% under Category 3B of Karnataka’s OBC quota matrix.
Relevance:
Polity and Governance
Dimensions of the Article:
- Panchamasali Lingayats’ Quota Demand
Panchamasali Lingayats’ Quota Demand
Background:
- Lingayats: A Hindu sub-caste known as ‘Veerashaiva Lingayats,’ followers of the 12th-century philosopher-saint Basavanna. Basavanna’s teachings emphasized a personal relationship with Lord Shiva and rejected orthodox Hindu practices.
- Panchamasalis: A prominent sub-caste within the Lingayat community, they are the largest group, constituting nearly 70% of the Lingayat population and about 14% of Karnataka’s total population.
Current Quota System in Karnataka:
- Karnataka’s 32% OBC reservation in government jobs and educational institutions is divided among five categories.
- Category 2A: Includes 102 castes and is the category the Panchamasalis want to join.
- The quota system is designed to prevent dominant OBC groups from monopolizing benefits and ensures equitable distribution based on marginalization.
Previous Government Actions:
- Quota Reallocation: The previous state government reallocated the 4% Muslim quota under Category 2B to the Vokkaligas and Lingayats, creating new Categories 2C and 2D.
- Increased the Lingayat quota from 5% to 7%.
- Increased the Vokkaliga quota from 4% to 6%.
- Despite these changes, Panchamasalis continued to push for inclusion in Category 2A.
- Legal Challenges: The reallocation faced legal issues and is under review.
Current Situation:
- Legal and Survey Awaited: The state government is awaiting a legal resolution from the Supreme Court. The Karnataka Social, Economic, and Caste Survey, which may influence future quota plans, is also pending.
- Potential Inclusion in Central OBC List: The government is considering including all Lingayats in the central OBC list to balance the demands and manage quota allocations effectively.
- Central Government Quota: Presently, only 16 Lingayat sub-castes classified as “very backward” receive reservations under the central OBC quota.
Significance:
- The Panchamasali Lingayats’ demand reflects the broader struggle within the OBC quota system to address relative marginalization and ensure equitable access to benefits for various sub-castes.
-Source: The Hindu, PIB
