Govt clarifies to Governor on SC/ST ordinance bill

The state government on Wednesday again sent to Governor Vajubhai Vala an ordinance bill that sought to circumvent a recent Supreme Court order on the consequential seniority in promotions awarded to SC/ST employees, urging him to promulgate the ordinance.

The government clarified to the Governor on the need for promulgating the ordinance. The ordinance bill is aimed at protecting the interest of SC/ST employees and will not affect employees of other communities, Law Minister T B Jayachandra told reporters.

The Supreme Court had struck down the consequential seniority in promotions awarded to SC/ST employees and set August 9 as the deadline to implement its order. The government had, therefore, decided to take the ordinance route to circumvent the Supreme Court order, he added.