Zilla, taluk panchayat polls in June

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, APRIL 1. The emergency meeting of the State Cabinet, here on Saturday decided to hold the elections to the taluk and zilla panchayats in the first week of June.

The Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. D. B. Chandre Gowda, told presspersons soon after the Cabinet meeting that the elections would be held either on June 6 or 7. He said the poll process would, however, commence from May 15. About one lakh Government employees were now engaged in the enumeration work and the task was expected to be completed by the end of May. At least a week's time was required to hold the polls to the taluk and zilla panchayats, thereafter.

Mr. Gowda said the Cabinet discussed in detail the repercussions on the State's exchequer following the abrupt and steep hike in the prices of PDS items and felt that the burden on account of the price hike should not be passed on to the card holders.

He said the increase in the price of rice from Rs. 9.80 a kg to Rs. 12.75 and that of wheat from Rs. 7.50 a kg to Rs. 9.80 had resulted in an increased burden of Rs. 550 crores to the State's exchequer. Though the State Government had identified 65 lakh families under poverty line, the Centre had identified only 28 lakh families and there was an additional burden on the exchequer.

Mr. Gowda said the Cabinet had expressed the view that the steep increase was an unnecessary burden on the poor. It was decided that the State Government should bear the extra burden without passing it on to the customers.

He said the Cabinet had decided not to effect mass transfers of Government employees this year. However, transfers under the categories of ``request'' and ``mutual,'' which did not involve any expenditure, would be effected. The amount that would be saved on account of the halt to mass transfers would be about Rs. 24 crores, he said.

Mr. Gowda said that those Government employees, who had put in two to three years in North Karnataka region would get an option of three places for their next transfer. It was to motivate Government employees to work in the North Karnataka region.

Mr. Gowda said the Cabinet had also approved a proposal to fill 620 vacancies of sub-inspectors. He said 150 of the 620 posts would be filled from within the service and would be open to eligible head constables. The minimum qualification for the head constables eligible to appear in the competitive examination was a degree, 10 years experience and within 45 years of age.

Mr. Gowda said the decision was taken by the Cabinet in view of the fact that quite a number of eligible head constables, who had acquired the necessary educational qualifications during the time of their service, had no opportunity to reach the post of SI.

The Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to recommend the norms for making reservation in the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, which met today, had authorised the Chief Minister to take suitable decision in this regard. The Cabinet Sub-Committee consists of the Law Minister, the Minister for Cooperation and the Minister for Urban Development.

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