SC/ST promotions: Governor returns ordinance bill to govt

Governor Vajibhai Vala is learnt to have sent back to the state government on Tuesday an ordinance bill that sought to circumvent a recent Supreme Court order striking down the consequential seniority in promotions awarded to SC/ST employees.

The Supreme Court had set August 9 as the deadline to the government to implement its order, which states that all consequential promotions given to the SC/ST employees under 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 will be null and void.

The government had, therefore, decided to take the ordinance route to circumvent the apex court order.

Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office said the Governor has sought to know why the government is taking the ordinance route despite Supreme Court order.