BANGALORE: The Karnataka Bar Council has opposed the notification of the State Government giving assistant labour commissioners (ALCs) in 11 zones the powers to deal with petitions claiming compensation for death of workmen under the Workmen's Compensation Act.

Council Chairman Y.R. Sadasiva Reddy said that by issuing the notification, the Government had taken away from labour officers in districts the powers to try cases related to death of workmen.

The decision to transfer the powers would affect people as they would have to travel long distances to file petitions before the ALCs, he added.

In April, the Government issued a notification on the jurisdiction of officers of the Labour Department with regard to implementation of labour laws. Using powers under Section 20 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, the Government notified ALCs in the 11 zones as "commissioners" to deal with petitions claiming compensation for death of workmen.

The 11 zones are in Bangalore, Belgaum, Hubli, Gulbarga, Davangere, Mysore, Mangalore and Chikmagalur. The Government notified 38 labour officers in 27 districts as commissioners for dealing with petitions related to non-fatal accidents involving workmen.

The families of the victims were burdened as they had to travel long distances to zonal offices to file petitions. For instance, a person from Bagalkot or Bijapur had to travel to Belgaum to file a petition before the ALC.

The Government should withdraw the notification and restore the earlier system where labour officers in districts tried all cases, he said.

Mr. Reddy told presspersons that the Government had not prepared guidelines for providing a stipend of Rs. 1,000 each to newly enrolled advocates. The stipend was announced in the budget.

Allocation for stipend

The Government had made a budgetary provision for paying stipend for one year from the date of enrolment. He appealed to the Government to frame guidelines so that advocates who enrolled from June would benefit.

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