The State Cabinet has decided to maintain the status quo with regard to reservation in direct recruitments by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).
Briefing presspersons on the decisions taken by the State Cabinet, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said a decision was taken to continue the earlier policy (2006) which allowed meritorious candidates from the reserved category to be appointed under general merit category.
A recent Government Order had limited meritorious candidates from reserved category to be recruited in general category and this had evoked a strong protest from Minister Priyank Kharge and other leaders. Mr. Kharge had shot off a letter to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy stating that 50% of government jobs would be the limit for 93% of the population that is eligible to qualify under direct reservation if the order was to be implemented.
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Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had also assured a delegation of SC/ST employees that the issue would be raised in the next coordination meeting of the coalition.
It was decided to sanction ₹13.2 crore and ₹25 crore, respectively, for construction of court complexes in Balki in Bidar, and Puttur in Dakhina Kannada district.
A sum of ₹32.89 crore was sanctioned for smart policing under the police modernisation scheme, and this would help traffic police get latest gadgets for tracking traffic violators, Mr. Byre Gowda said.
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Box 1
CM authorised to limit holidays
With too many holidays for government employees in a calendar year, the Cabinet authorised Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to limit the number of holidays for ensuring smooth governance. Now, employees get 54 Sunday holidays, 12 second Saturday holidays, and 21 other holidays, including holidays on birth anniversaries of seers and leaders.
BOX 2
Changes in Lokayukta Act
The State Cabinet has decided to bring in an amendment to the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, which would empower the Lokayukta to delegate powers to the Upalokayukta if a probe was ordered against the Lokayukta himself.
At present the Act is silent on the issue of delegation of powers to the Upalokayukta in such a situation.