Report to help smaller communities

Former chairman of the Karnataka State Permanent Backward Classes Commission K Jayaprakash Hegde's report on the socio-economic and educational survey, commonly referred to as the caste census report, has stirred a hornet's nest.

- Naheed Ataulla

BENGALURU: Hegde fine-tuned the report prepared by his predecessor H Kantharaj, commissioned by chief minister Siddaramaiah during his first tenure. A decade later, the Siddaramaiah government is contemplating implementing the report, in the midst of several communities alleging their population has been underreported. In an interview to HT, Hegde spoke on the "misconceptions" with regard to the report.

When you took charge as the chairman of the Karnataka State Permanent Backward Classes Commission in 2020, at what stage was the socio-economic and educational survey, which was done by your predecessor H Kanthraj?

The survey was completed by 2015. Kantharaj had written the report, but there were legal hitches as the Commission's member-secretary had not signed it. Law says that the government cannot accept the report unless it is signed by the member-secretary.

I wrote to the member-secretary, but he declined to give reasons for not signing it. The data was ready and uploaded on the Bharat Electronics digital software and also certified by the Indian Institute of Management for its authenticity. I am told when Kantharaj went to submit the report to former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, he refused to take it. When I took over, I wrote to then CMs BS Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai to direct the Commission on what should be done as the report did not have the member-secretary's signature. There was no response from both. In 2023, when Siddaramaiah became the CM, I went to congratulate him and also submitted my resignation as I had been appointed by the previous BJP government. Siddaramaiah asked not only me but also all the other members of the Commission to continue and submit a fresh report.

So, what was pending for you to do?