Poll code an obstacle to revising staff salary: Transport Minister
The Hindu
‘Karnataka govt. has written to EC seeking permission’
Appealing to road transport corporation (RTC) employees to not go on strike from April 7, Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Laxman Savadi cited the model code of conduct as an obstacle for taking a decision on hiking salaries of the staff. He also urged the staff to wait till May 4. “In the State, the Model Code of Conduct is already in place in Bidar, Raichur and Belagavi. It is mandatory to seek prior permission of the Election Commission to make any announcement on pay revision and we have already approached the commission in this regard. If the Commission does not give permission, we cannot decide on pay revision till May 4,” he said. He reiterated that an indefinite strike will cause inconvenience to the general public. Responding to questions on the State government using the MCC as an excuse , the Minister said, “We have already taken a decision to hike the salaries of the staff and we will not go back from our words. If the Election Commission gives the green signal , we are ready to make announcement tomorrow itself.” He added that a Labour Court which is doing conciliation meetings with RTCs and representatives of the Union has directed to maintain the status-quo till April 9. He further said that the Health Department, has barred protests to contain COVID-19 .More Related News
Around 440 MBBS graduates of 2021 are not required to undergo one year of compulsory rural service as per the bond signed by them while joining the medical course through government-quota seats in 2015 as the High Court of Karnataka has said the law, enacted in 2012 for mandatory rural service, remained unenforced for 10 years as it was published in the official gazette only in July 2022.