Bengaluru: The State Cabinet has decided to promulgate an Ordinance to give reservation in promotions for employees belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
A Cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah decided to promulgate the Ordinance through the Governor’s assent. The Karnataka Law Commission and two retired judges of the Supreme Court studied the recommendations made by Additional Chief Secretary Rathna Prabha on the issue.
Speaking with media persons on the Cabinet decisions here on Monday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said around 100 senior employees mainly from the Energy and Public Works Departments would benefit from the decision.
On February 9, 2017 the Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices U.U. Lalith and Adarsh Kumar Goel in the B.K. Pavithra and Others vs. Union of India and Others civil appeal filed in 2011, delivered the verdict and struck down reservation in promotions for SC, ST employees and sought reasons for providing such promotions.
The petitioner Pavithra was working as Engineer Officer in BDA’s Engineering Department at the time of filing the case.
The apex court order envisages fair treatment to general category government employees with regard to promotions.
The State has had reservation in promotions for SC, ST employees since 1978 — 15% for SCs and 3% for STs.
Jayachandra said the Supreme Court directed the State to implement its order in six months, setting a deadline of August 9, 2017. Now, the government would argue that it had given promotions based on the criteria of “backwardness, adequacy and efficiency” of employees by including Section 5 to the 1978 Act.
