The Hindu : Karnataka News : Govt. firm on direct recruitment of tahsildars

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 04, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Govt. firm on direct recruitment of tahsildars

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, FEB. 3S. The State Government has made it clear that it will go ahead with the recruitment of tahsildars irrespective of the opinion expressed by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).

The Minister for Revenue, M.P. Prakash, intervening during the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address to the joint session of the legislature, said the KPSC should not have any misgivings over the Government opting for direct recruitment of tahsildars. There has been no recruitment to the post since 1986 and there are many vacancies, and this is hampering the smooth functioning of the department, he added.

He said the KPSC selection list of 1998 was not cleared owing to charges of malpractice, and the matter is pending before the Supreme Court. Because of this, those in the 1999 selection list have not been recruited. The Government recently requested the KPSC to select 50 tahsildars and the selection process has been initiated. There are an additional 107 vacancies, and the Government has thought it fit to go in for a direct recruitment, he said.

A one-time measure

Mr. Prakash made it clear that the Government has no intention to sideline the KPSC, a constitutionally created body. He said the rules permit the Government to opt for direct recruitment.

"We have had three rounds of discussions on the matter. I have discussed it with the KPSC. The present direct recruitment is only a one-time measure aimed at filling the vacancies," he added.

Speaking about the Governor's address, the floor leader of the Janata Dal (United), J.C. Madhuswamy, said the Education Department should be removed from the purview of the economy measure. Schools in rural areas are hard hit by a lack of teachers and a number of schools are functioning with only two or three teachers. How then can children in these schools do well in examinations, competing with students in urban areas, he asked.

He said there was nothing specific in the address. It did not mention the direction in which the Government is heading and what the Government proposes to do in the interest of people. It was a drab address, he said.

`Seek trust vote'

Earlier, the Leader of the Opposition, B.S. Yediyurappa, told the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, who was present in the Legislative Assembly, to seek a trust vote on various grounds. He also said there was nothing specific in the Governor's address.

Squabbles in the Congress and between the two coalition partners have resulted in the people losing faith in the Government. Bills of contractors pertaining to various departments have not been paid and the dues to them are increasing, he added.

He said the committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister to eliminate corruption has not met. No action has been initiated to implement the D.M. Nanjundappa Committee report on regional imbalances. There is no effort to raise funds for backward districts. Regional development boards such as the Malnad Development Board, the Hyderabad Karnataka Area Development Board and the Bayaluseeme Board are struggling to meet their establishment expenditure owing to a lack of funds. He described the financial packages announced for several districts as bogus since there is no budgetary allocation.

Subsidy to small units

Mr. Yediyurappa said the announcement pertaining to payment of subsidy to small industries has not been implemented, and over Rs. 450 crores is due to these units. Payment of subsidy will motivate entrepreneurs to set up new industries. The subsidy to those who have installed sprinkler and drip irrigation systems, to encourage water conservation, has also not been paid. Owing to water scarcity, a large number of horticulturists in Kolar district have opted for the systems, and the Government is yet to fulfil its commitment, he said.

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