Assembly passes Bill on SC/ST staff promotions

Belagavi: The Legislature Assembly yesterday unanimously passed a Bill that seeks to circumvent a recent Supreme Court order striking down consequential seniority in promotions awarded to SC/ST employees. While the BJP and the JD(S) raised some technical points pertaining to the Bill, there was no opposition per se - apparently as all political parties want to keep their Dalit vote bank happy ahead of the Assembly polls. Around 3,000 SC/ST employees working in 64 Government Departments were to face demotions if the SC order is implemented. The Supreme Court had set November end as deadline to implement its order which states that all consequential promotions given to the SC/STs under the provision of the Karnataka Determination of Seniority of Government Servants promoted on the basis of Reservation Act, 2002, will be null and void. Tabling the Bill on behalf of Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra said that amendments has been brought to sections 5 and 9 of the Act to ensure justice is rendered to SC/ST employees. Karnataka introduced reservation in promotions for the SC/ST employees in April 1978, he added.