Bengaluru: The State Cabinet yesterday decided to take the ordinance route to circumvent a recent Supreme Court (SC) order striking down the consequential seniority in promotions awarded to SC,ST employees. The SC had set Aug. 9 as the deadline to implement its order, which states that all consequential promotions given to the SC/STs under the provisions of the Karnataka Determination of Seniority of the Government Servants Promoted on the basis of Reservation (to the posts in the Civil Services of the State) Act, 2002, will be null and void.

Briefing reporters after the  meeting, Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra said, suitable amendment will be brought to section 5 of the Act to ensure that justice is rendered to the employees.

Pointing out that around 3,000 SC&ST employees working in 63 Government Departments would have faced demotions if the order was implemented, Jayachandra said, Karnataka introduced reservation in promotions for the SC/ST employees in April 1978. Around 100 supernumerary posts will be created to provide promotions to non SC/ST employees, he added.

The Minister said that the ordinance will be sent to Governor Vajubhai R. Vala on Tuesday with a request that it be promulgated. A revision petition filed by the State Government challenging the  order is also pending before the SC, he added.

Meanwhile, the AHIMSA (Alpasankyata Hindulida Mattu Samanya Vedike) has said that it will once again knock the doors of the SC challenging the State Govt.’s ordinance. Vedike Hon. President Chandrashekar alleged that the State Govt. was making all attempts to circumvent the SC order. Maintaining that the SC order was final and binding on the State Govt., he said that the Govt. was doing everything to dodge the SC Order.