The Karnataka Assembly on Monday passed the Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, ensuring reservation for SC, ST, and OBC members in the elections to president and vice-president posts in cooperative societies, media reports say.
The Bill also allows nomination of one SC, one ST, and one woman to society boards, though without voting rights. Law Minister H.K. Patil said the measure was aimed at social justice.
Opposition members, including BJP’s Araga Jnanendra and JDS’s G.T. Devegowda, questioned the nomination system and raised concerns about mandatory asset declarations, calling it impractical and excessive government interference.
However, Congress members countered that critics were opposing reservation itself. Patil defended the Bill, noting it was reintroduced after consultations with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who had initially rejected it.
