State to file revision petition in SC on quashed SC/ST promotions

The Cabinet on Friday decided to file a revision petition challenging the Supreme Court ruling which struck down the consequential seniority in promotions to SC/ST government employees.

The apex court had held that proportionate representation of posts for SC/STs is not sufficient to grant promotion. Implementing the Supreme Court order will result in demotion of hundreds of SC/ST employees who have been promoted in keeping with the provisions of the Karnataka Determination of Seniority of the Government Servants Promoted on the Basis of Reservation (To the Posts in the Civil Services of the State) Act, 2002.

According to official sources, besides filing the revision petition, an exercise for determining ‘inadequacy of representation’, ‘backwardness’ and ‘overall efficiency’ will be carried out as per the Supreme Court directions. This task has been entrusted to the State Backward Classes Commission.

Sources said the Supreme Court had fixed a time frame of three months to implement its order. The secretary, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), has been directed to frame the guidelines for preparing a revised seniority list.

MBBS seats
The Cabinet approved Rs 354.91 crore for bearing additional expenses following increase of intake for MBBS course in Mandya, Hassan, Shivamogga, Raichur, Bidar and Belagavi government medical colleges from 100 to 150 seats.

The Cabinet decided to amend the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Determination of Fee) Act, 2006, to incorporate provisions of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which will conduct a national- level entrance test for admission to undergraduate medical courses.

In another decision, the Cabinet decided to waive loans to the tune of Rs 33.41 crore provided to 10,522 weavers over the years for construction of worksheds.

The sources said the Cabinet decided to increase the state government’s share of incentive for construction of toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission from Rs 1,333 to Rs 9,667 per verified household. This amount will be in addition to the Rs 4,000 provided by the Centre. The sources added that the state government hiked its share since at least Rs 15,000 is required for the construction of a toilet.
DH News Service