Karnataka cabinet moots Bill to provide 50 to 75 percent Kannadiga quota in private sector jobs

The Karnataka cabinet is mooting a bill to provide reservation for locals under the Kannadiga quota in private sector jobs including “industries, factories, and other establishments” in the State..The bill styled Karnataka State Government Employment of Local Candidates in Industries Bill, 2024 mandates 50 percent reservation for locals in managerial positions and 75 percent in non-managerial posts.In case enough eligible candidates are not available, the proposed law mandates that the concerned industry in collaboration with the State should train local candidates within three years and employ them.The bill also provides for the appointment of a nodal agency by the State for implementing the provisions of the law.Karnataka Chief Minister (CM) Siddaramaiah said via Tweet that the bill is still in preparation stage and a comprehensive discussion will be held at the next cabinet meeting before a final decision is made. "The draft bill intended to provide reservations for Kannadigas in private sector companies, industries, and enterprises is still in the preparation stage. A comprehensive discussion will be held in the next cabinet meeting to make a final decision," the tweet said..Objective of the proposed lawThe Congress government in Karnataka led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that the bill is essential to provide adequate employment opportunities to locals and that it is expedient to provide employment to locals in factories, industries etc.,.Who is a ‘local’?The bill defines a local candidate as a person born in Karnataka and domiciled in the State for 15 years. Additionally, the person should speak, read and write Kannada in a legible manner. The candidates should have a secondary school certificate with Kannada as a language. If not, they must pass a Kannada proficiency test as specified by the nodal agency. .Penalties in case of breach of the proposed lawThe bill prescribes monetary penalty of ₹10,000 to ₹ 1 lakh in case of an isolated or repeated breach of any of its provisions. It provides a limitation period of six months for prosecution..Other states with similar laws and their current status.In 2019, the Andhra Pradesh State assembly had passed the Andhra Pradesh Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries/Factories Act in 2019 to reserve 75% of jobs for local candidates. It was challenged before the Andhra Pradesh High Court and in 2020 the Court had observed that the 75% quota might be unconstitutional. The legislation is yet to be implemented in full by the State..In 2020, Haryana enacted the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act mandating 75% reservation in private sector jobs for locals. The Act was challenged before the Punjab and Haryana High Court and in 2022, the Court quashed the law terming it ultra vires of Part III of the Constitution and in breach of Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution..In 2022, the Jharkhand government had passed the Jharkhand Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (Amendment) Bill proposing to raise reservation in state government jobs from 60% to 77% for people belonging to the SC/ST/OBC/EWS categories. A year later, the bill was returned by the Governor asking for a review. The State passed the bill again in 2023 without any revision. However, it is yet to send it to the Governor for assent.