GO to restore posts of demoted SC/ST staff

The state government on Wednesday issued an order restoring the cadre and pay-scale of thousands of SC/ST employees, who were demoted following a February 2017 Supreme Court judgement that struck down reservation in promotions.

No fresh demotions will be effected for employees from their current positions, the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) stated. However, the order is subject to the outcome of cases related to reservation in promotion before the Supreme Court.

The order has been issued to implement the Karnataka Extension of Consequential Seniority to Government Servants Promoted on the Basis of Reservation (to the post in the civil services of the state) Act, 2017. The law was passed in November 2017 to circumvent the Apex court judgement and protect the consequential seniority accorded to SC/ST employees since April 1978.

The SC judgement had resulted in demotions of over 3,700 employees, promotions of 5,002 employes and alteration in the seniority of nearly 65,000 employees. Ever since, SC/ST employees have been mounting pressure on the government to protect their interests.

The issue had rocked the Cabinet meeting earlier this week, where Congress’ Dalit ministers mounted pressure on Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to implement the law and reverse demotions. The government had decided, on January 30, to implement the law even as the matter was before the Supreme Court.

SC/ST employees, who will return to their cadre and pay-scale, will be given an equivalent posting based on availability.

All government departments have been asked to revise the seniority lists, which will become the basis for all promotions going forward, the order states.