While BJP continues dharna, major bills pushed through

BELAGAVI: The 10-day winter session of the state legislature ended on Friday with the government passing two bills amidst a din. While opposition BJP members continued their dharna in both Houses — they demanded a proper discussion on North Karnataka in the legislative council and an apology from chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on the farm loan waiver issue in the assembly — the ruling coalition, in what has become a norm, hurriedly pushed through key legislations.
Both Houses of the legislature were later adjourned sine die.

Even while BJP members raised pandemonium in the assembly, the Karnataka Civil Services (Procedure for Selection of Candidates during Recruitment) bill was passed by voice vote without discussion.

In huge relief for candidates of scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST) and other backward classes (OBC), the state legislature allowed candidates of these reserved categories to be counted in the general category too, if they are selected in open competition on the basis of their own merit.

“This is a very important bill which will have far reaching consequences in protecting the interests of reserved category candidates,” speaker of the assembly, KR Ramesh Kumar told reporters after the session was adjourned sine die.

The bill was passed to nullify a Karnataka high court order, which stated that reserved category candidates must be counted only in the quota reserved for them and not in the general category, even if they are selected in open competition on their own merit.

In November, the government had directed the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) to strictly adhere to the guidelines set out by the court while recruiting 2015 batch gazetted probationers. This led to a big hue and cry as several elected representatives stated that it would deny meritorious students their right to be counted under the general category.

Calling the government’s direction disturbing, social welfare minister Priyank Kharge had even written a letter to chief minister HD Kumaraswamy to intervene. “The move will affect a large number of candidates belonging to SC, ST and backward classes,” Kharge said. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah and former PWD minister HC Mahadevappa had also urged the government to withdraw the direction.

Out of office of profit purview

The assembly also passed the Karnataka Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification, amendment) bill that seeks to keep the post of political secretary to the chief minister out of the purview of office of profit.

In order to accommodate as many MLAs as possible in the government, the Congress and the JD(S) decided to appoint eight parliamentary secretaries and one political secretary. The bill will facilitate the process. The posts of parliamentary secretaries have already been kept out of purview of office of profit by way of an amendment a few years ago.