State govt puts all promotions on hold

The state government has put on hold all promotions till it gets clarity from the Supreme Court that is hearing a case related to reservations in promotion, Law Minister Krishna Byre Gowda told the Assembly on Friday.

The case is slated to come up for hearing on July 27.

P Rajeev (BJP) raised the issue of the government delaying the implementation of 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 government notified the law last month after it received President Ram Nath Kovind’s assent.

“There is no stay on implementing the Act, but the consequences of this Act are what the Supreme Court is looking into. The advocate-general has opined that the government should act based on the outcome of the case. Until there is clarity, all promotions and demotions have been put on hold,” Gowda said.

In February 2017, the apex court declared null and void all consequential promotions given to SC/ST employees. This was set to affect over 8,000 employees. The 2017 Act was passed to circumvent the Supreme Court order and ensure that reservation in promotions of SC/ST staff effected since April 27, 1978 is intact.

Deputy leader of the Opposition Govind Karjol said many departments, through promotion committees, had given effect to promotions ahead of schedule.

“Promotions are being done in a hurry,” he said. Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge concurred that some departments had indeed advanced promotions.

“But now, the Act supersedes everything including the ongoing B K Pavitra case that deals with compliance,” he said.

Rajeev charged that the failure to implement the Act could amount of breach of privilege. However, Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar corrected him.

“It will amount to contempt of the House, which will be of serious nature,” he said.

“My advice to the government is that it should not wait for the Supreme Court.
What if the hearing gets prolonged further? Treat July 27 as a deadline after which the Act should be implemented,” he said.

Gowda assured the Assembly that the government was committed to implementing the law.