The State government being indecisive over the implementation of the Consequential Seniority Act seems to be having an effect on the morale of employees — both general category and those belonging to the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes.
While general category employees point out that their promotion avenues have been blocked and several employees are retiring without promotion as all promotions have been stalled since August 2018, SC/ST employees, who have been demoted following revision of seniority list after the February 2017 Supreme Court order, have been anxiously awaiting the Act to be implemented as they expect to be reverted to the posts they held before demotion.
Pressure on govt.
Since the Karnataka Extension of Consequential Seniority to Government Servants Promoted on the Basis of Reservation (to the posts in the Civil Services of the State) Act, 2017, came into force in June 2018 after receiving the President’s assent, the two groups are exerting pressure on the government.
While the State Government SC/ST Coordination Committee has been urging the government to implement the Act, AHIMSA (an organisation which represents general category, backward classes and minorities officials), has been urging the government to withhold implementation of the Act till the Supreme Court gives its final orders. AHIMSA has planned a protest on the issue on Friday.
Officials from both general category and SC/ST associations admit that the delay has had its effect on the lower and mid-level bureaucracy.
“A large number of vacant posts exists now owing to retirement as well as the earlier vacancies. Promotions have been held back owing to the confusion. Morale is low irrespective of the community the employees belong to,” said a general category employee on condition of anonymity.
‘Misplaced fear’
Legal adviser to the State Government SC/ST Coordination Committee D. Chandrashekaraiah said, “A large number of vacancies exist but government is not filling them. According to the government report released in 2018, of the 7.42 lakh sanctioned posts, 5.16 lakh posts have been filled. This is after leaving aside those who have retired since then.”
He argued that the fear of general category employees that they would be demoted if the Act comes to force is misplaced. “With over 2.2 lakh vacant posts, the government can also provide promotions and give appropriate posts to general category employees too,” he said.
What is the official stand
In a recent letter to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, the State government said that the Supreme Court has not given specific permission to implement the Consequential Seniority Act.
“However, we have further sought legal opinion of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and the Advocate General regarding the implementation of the Act. The State government is awaiting legal opinion and for further directions of the Supreme Court,” the letter of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, dated January 1, 2019, stated.