Karnataka assembly passes land revenue, civil services

Karnataka Legislative Assembly today passed a bill amending land revenue act as well as an amendment bill relating to transfer of teachers by voice vote.
As Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad rose to table the bill and asked the House to consider it, Opposition BJP leader Jagadish Shettar objected to government bringing the bill on the last day of the session.
He questioned the intention of the government and called it a "bad precedent".
Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa asked the Minister to take note of the opposition's criticism.
The Karnataka Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2015 aims to bring changes in Karnataka Land Revenue Act 1964 to enhance the limit of regularization of unauthorized construction of dwelling house in government land in rural areas under section 94C from 2,400 Sq feet to 4,000 Sq feet.

It aims to limit the area to be utilized for construction of farm building or farm house to 10 per cent of the total holding but not exceeding ten guntas (1 gunta equals 121 square yards).

The bill also considers it necessary to amend the Act to provide for deemed permission for conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purpose like setting up of solar power generation unit in accordance with Karnataka Solar Policy 2014-21.
The Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of Transfer of Teachers) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 was also passed by the assembly with a vote.
The bill was tabled by Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Rathnakar. The bill considers it necessary to amend Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of transfer of teachers) Act, 2007 to provide opportunity to transfer teachers appointed after May 4 2005, outside unit of seniority once in service.

It also aims to provide transfer opportunity to the teachers to the place where their spouses are working in aided educational institutions outside the unit of seniority.
Responding to various suggestions made by the members, Rathnakar said a comprehensive amendment will be brought to the Act in the future.