OBC income ceiling for govt jobs, education raised

Cap increased to Rs 3.5 lakh from Rs two lakh per annum

The State Cabinet has raised the annual income limit for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to avail reservation benefits vis-a-vis admission to educational institutions / State government jobs to Rs 3.5 lakh from the present Rs two lakh per annum.

The government is yet to make an announcement in this regard as the legislature session is in progress.

Sources said an official announcement would be made on the floor of the House shortly and appropriate orders on the increased ceiling limit would be issued to educational institutions and government departments. At present, the cap is Rs two lakh per annum, which was fixed nine years ago. The ‘creamy layer’ concept was introduced to exclude the socially advantaged people from reservation benefits.

The government’s move will now help in covering more OBCs under the reservation criteria.

The move also comes on the eve of a meeting of backward classes leaders in Bangalore, convened by State BJP Backward Classes Morcha, to draw an action plan to oppose the UPA government’s move to provide 4.5 per cent sub-quota for minorities within the 27 per cent reservation for OBCs.

BJP State in-charge and national general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan and top State BJP leaders are scheduled to attend the meeting.

It has been four years since the Union government, based on the recommendation of the National Backward Classes Commission, raised the income ceiling for creamy layer among OBCs from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh per annum.

Soon after, in 2009, the State Backward Classes Commission recommended to the State government to adopt the same for the benefit of OBCs in Karnataka.

However, the State Cabinet has decided to fix the ceiling at Rs 3.5 lakh, which is one lakh less than the Centre’s ceiling.

The Cabinet also decided to withdraw cases filed against 40 farmers, whose protest against acquisition of land at Sirivar village in Bellary for construction of an airport had turned violent in 2009.

Lokayukta

In another decision, the Cabinet decided to amend Section 9 of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, to make provisions for forwarding a copy of a complaint not only to the public servant against whom the complaint has been made, but also to the competent authority of the various departments named in the complaint, sources said.

Other decisions

* Approval for setting up private universities by Manipal Group at Doddaballapur and ARKA Eduservices  at Jakkasandra on Kanakapura Road.

* Sanctioning of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) pay scales for teaching staff of government pharmacy colleges

* Approval for construction of administrative building for University of Horticultural Sciences in Bagalkot