The Karnataka Legislative Council on Friday passed seven Bills amid din by Bharatiya Janata Party members who were protesting against denial of permission to initiate discussion on charges of irregularities against Ministers.
Six Bills were passed without any discussion, including the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (Amendment) Bill, 2014, which was opposed by the Opposition parties during the debate on Thursday. When these Bills were being passed, BJP members were staging a protest in the well of the House against Council Chairman’s refusal to allow discussion on the Ministers facing charges.
Three members — the former Minister Basavaraj Horatti, Maritibbe Gowda and Deputy Chairman Puttanna — vehemently opposed the Karnataka Education (Amendment) Bill, 2014, which authorises the government to stop the practice of extending additional increment, payable to government school employees for passing service examination or Kannada language examination, to employees of aided educational institutions.
Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar contended that in the wake of the Supreme Court order on extending benefits to private school employees, the government had issued an Ordinance on stopping payment of additional increment as it would result in a burden of Rs. 300 crore on the government.
His contention, however, was questioned by Mr. Horatti, Mr. Puttanna and Mr. Gowda who wanted the government to withdraw the Bill. When the Minister went ahead with seeking approval for the Bill, the three members walked out. The other Bills that were passed in the Council were the Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance Bill, 2013; the Karnataka Appropriation (No. 4) Bill, 2014; the Indian Succession (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2014; the Karnataka Municipalities and Certain Other Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014, and the Karnataka Court Fees and Suits Valuation (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
