Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 13: To escape from the compulsion to abide by the Supreme Court verdict on reservation criteria applied for promotion of SC/ST employees in promotions, the government has planned to formulate a law in the current session of the legislature. Its earlier attempt to get the ordinance in this connection signed by the governor had failed as the governor advised the government to hold discussions in both houses of legislature before passing the law.

While the government is tabling a bill to protect the interests of 22,000 SC/ST employees and officers who are set to lose their seniority and positions on account of Supreme Court order, other employees who will be denied a chance to get promotion, have threatened to launch stir. While employees organizations representing minorities, backward, and general category has planned strike, SC/ST employees have also planned a protest. This has created a huge problem for the government.

In the rally organized two weeks back by minorities, backward and general category employees, the workers expressed strong resentment at the stance taken by the government. The employees had, in the presence of minister, K J George, threatened to take on the government during the election if it neglects their interests. It is well known fact that support of employees plays a significant role in the success or failure of the ruling party in elections. The government, which faces this piquant problem, is now planning to hold detailed discussions in parliamentary party meeting and cabinet meeting, before taking a final call.

As per the fresh deadline given by Supreme Court, the government has to prepare fresh seniority list in all 63 departments and 60 boards and corporations and give promotions to eligible people and revert those who are ineligible, before June 15 next year. If the government fails to give these promotions, all employees other than SC/ST categories will revolt against the government.

So far, as per the analysis of the government, protecting interests of promoted SC/ST employees would have resulted in benefit for the ruling party. The government escaped from Supreme Court's action by seeking fresh time to implement its order. Although a bill is ready for being moved at the Belagavi session of the legislature, there is uncertainty over what will be the final decision of the government.

While SC/ST employees have planned road blockade and protest demanding to enact law to protect their interests on Monday, employees belonging to all other categories are coming from various districts to Belagavi today, and hold protest demonstration demanding to follow the order of the apex court.