Staff shortage affecting work, ministers tell Chief Minister

The ministers reportedly expressed their views when the K Jairaj Action Taken Report on illegal mining came up for discussion.

Two bureaucrats told the meeting that action cannot be initiated at one go against all those whose names figured in the Lokayukta mining report, owing to severe shortage of staff in many departments. And if action is initiated without even holding an inquiry, then work would suffer and employees will also be demoralised, they said.

In many departments, not even half of the sanctioned posts have been filled. Recruitment by the Karnataka Public Service Commission is also very slow. The government has almost stopped making fresh recruitments in many departments, the ministers told the chief minister.

Chief Secretary S V Ranganath reportedly told the meeting that he could effect transfers of C & D employees only after they complete a minimum of three years in one department.
Gowda is said to have told his ministerial colleagues to bring details of vacancies in their respective departments for discussion in the next Cabinet meeting.