Karnataka reservation bill row: THESE other states have similar laws. Take a look

Karnataka Reservation Bill: The Karnataka Cabinet approved a new bill on July 16 that mandates reservation for ‘Kannadigas’ or locals, 50 per cent in management positions and 75 per cent in non-management roles.

The decision has been met with mixed responses. We take a look at whether any other Indian states have enacted similar legislation.

States With Similar Reservations for Locals in Private Companies

• In 2020, the Haryana state government enacted the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, which required private companies to employ 75 per cent of staff with monthly salaries under ₹30,000 from among state domiciles, according to a report by The News Minute.
• The Haryana legislation was challenged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and struck down by the court in 2023. News Minute report cited Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality and freedom, respectively.
• The High Court said the rule “exceeded” the state's authority by restricting private employers from freely hiring from the open market. It called the Act's restrictions “erecting artificial walls” and a callback to the “Inspector Raj” era.
• Besides Haryana, Andhra Pradesh in 2019 became the first state to enact a law mandating 75 per cent reservation for locals in private sector jobs, News Minute added. The Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2020 said this Bill “may be unconstitutional”.

What Does the Karnataka Reservation Bill Say?

The bill on the appointment of ‘Local Candidates’, newswire PTI reported, says, “Any industry, factory or other establishments shall appoint fifty per cent of local candidates in management categories and seventy per cent in non-management categories.”

• It says that if the candidates do not possess a secondary school certificate with Kannada as a language, they must pass a Kannada proficiency test as specified by the ‘Nodal Agency’.
• If the qualified local candidates are not available, the establishments within three years with active collaboration of government or its agencies should take steps to train them, it says.
• If a sufficient number of local candidates are not available, an establishment may apply to the government for a relaxation of the provisions of this Act.
• “Such orders passed by the Government shall be final: Provided that the relaxation provided under this section shall not be less than twenty-five per cent for management category and fifty per cent for non-management categories,” the proposed bill says.

• Every industry or factory or other establishment should inform the nodal agency about the compliance of the provisions of this Act in such form, within such period as may be prescribed, the copy of the bill read.

(With inputs from PTI)