On Thursday, the High Court of Karnataka took cognizance of the issue regarding staff shortages in hostels operated by the Social Welfare Department for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students, prompting the need for a response from the State government. The Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Prasanna B. Varale and Justice Krishna S. Dixit, initiated a PIL petition based on a news report from a Marathi language local newspaper in Dharwad.

The report underscored the significant deficiency in sanctioned staff positions, adversely affecting the academic pursuits of students residing in these hostels. In response, the Bench issued a notice to the government and appointed advocate Nitin Ramesh to serve as amicus curiae, assisting the court in addressing this critical matter. The suo motu PIL petition seeks a comprehensive examination of the reported staff shortages, emphasising the potential impact on the educational experiences of the students belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities.