Too many govt holidays? Cabinet forms review committee

The Cabinet on Monday decided to form a sub-committee to review the number of public holidays in the state, amid concerns that government officials enjoyed more offs than necessary.

The list of 21 government holidays for 2019, however, was approved.

“There is a concern that government holidays are more in number,” Law Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said, after the Cabinet meeting.

“We have formed a sub-committee to give a report to the Cabinet on how many holidays should be there, on which days, and what should be made a restricted
holiday.”

According to Gowda, there are 54 Sundays, 12 second Saturdays and 21 other holidays. If the recommendation of the Sixth Pay Commission to declare fourth Saturday as a holiday is accepted, another 12 days will get added, he pointed out.

Apparently, a section of government officials has asked for holidays to be given toward the weekend, so they can spend more time with family.

“Amidst this, when should we work? We have to also keep public interest in mind,” Gowda said, adding that too many holidays could act as a speedbreaker in the work.

The Cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Lokayukta Act that will allow the incumbent to recuse from investigating a case that may appear to be a conflict of interest.

“At present, the law is silent on what should be done in cases where there’s a conflict of interest. The amendment will mean the Lokayukta can recuse from probing a case, which will be handed over to the Upa Lokayukta,” Gowda said.

Other decisions

** Rs 30 crore approval for new scheme for organ transplantation for the poor.

** New government engineering college at Mosale Hosahalli in Hassan at a cost of Rs 58 crore and a polytechnic costing Rs 16 crore.

** Rs 110 crore to prepare DPR to construct diversion canal at Byramangala reservoir.

** Rs 540 crore to provide Cauvery drinking water supply via H D Deve Gowda barrage to Channapatna, Ramanagara, Magadi and Kanakapura

** Rs 41.50 crore for new market complex at ward number 38 in Mangaluru city

** Rs 198 crore to supply Netravati river water to Ullal, Kotekar and other areas

** Granting 65 acres at Vadavatti in Raichur for the Indian Institute of Information
Technology

** Court complexes at Bhalki (Bidar) and Anemajalu (Puttur) costing Rs 13.2 crore and Rs 25 crore,
respectively

** Adding 300 beds at Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences - Rs 32 crore

** 57 more dialysis units to be set up on PPP
basis