The Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) (Amendment) Rules, 2021 (‘2021 Amendment’) added sub-rule (1D) to Rule 9 of the original Rules, 1977.
THE AMENDMENT:
The 2021 Amendment provides 1% reservation for transgender persons in civil services post filled through direct recruitment. The reservations will be 1% in each of the categories of posts: General Merit, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and in each category among Other Backward Classes. This reservation applies to posts from any Group (A, B, C or D).
The 2021 Amendment requires that there be an “Others” category along with male and female for gender. It also prohibits discrimination by the Appointing Authority against transgender persons in selection.
SIGNIFICANCE:
This Amendment makes Karnataka the first State to provide for reservations in public employment. It is also significant that it has provided for horizontal reservations rather than vertical reservations. This means that reservations will be ensured across caste categories, and one group cannot dominate reservations for transgender persons.
However, the amendment does not provide for relaxations in age, fees, cut-off marks and other standards as it does for other reserved categories.
Read the order here.