Karnataka High Court: consultation with NCSC and NCST was mandatory before the enhanced quota law

The Karnataka High Court held that consultation with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes was mandatory under Articles 338(9) and 338-A(9) before a major policy decision affecting SCs and STs, and it rejected the state's reliance on letters dated 10 December 2025 and 20 January 2026 -- nearly three years after enactment and after the law's validity was challenged -- as post-decision correspondence that could not satisfy the requirement. The bench observed that consultation, to be meaningful and effective, must precede the decision, and that the constitutional requirement extends to all major policy matters affecting SCs or STs, not only adverse ones. Reported by Bar & Bench and Deccan Herald. (Bar & Bench, Deccanherald)

• The Karnataka High Court held that consultation with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes was mandatory under Articles 338(9) and 338-A(9) before a major policy de
• The bench observed that consultation, to be meaningful and effective, must precede the decision, and that the constitutional requirement extends to all major policy matters affecting SCs or STs, not only adverse ones.
• Reported by Bar & Bench and Deccan Herald.