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The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Siddaramaiah launches projects worth ₹513 crore in K.R. Nagar; calls upon farmers to make use of subsidy for agricultural implements
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday launched development works worth a total of ₹513 crore in K.R. Nagar Assembly constituency in Mysuru, including projects worth ₹197 crore under the Minor Irrigation Department. Of the ₹513 crore, foundation stones were laid for works worth ₹404 crore and completed works worth ₹109 crore were inaugurated. The works included laying the foundation stone for a long-pending demand for the construction of Kappadi bridge, Sagarkatte bridge, and repair of roads in K.R. Nagar town, besides handing over the Srirama Sugar factory in Chunchunkatte for a 40-year lease. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Siddaramaiah pointed out that it was the duty of the government and legislators to ensure development of the constituencies and resolve the problems faced by the people. While countering the Opposition's charge that the State government was 'bankrupt', Mr. Siddaramaiah pointed out that the government had spent ₹2.06 crore towards subsidising schemes offered by the Agriculture Department and called upon people of the region to make use of government subsidies to purchase agricultural implements. He said the farmers in North Karnataka made more use of agriculture implements in their farming activities compared to farmers of this region. The government provides quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, he said, while noting that farmers of K.R. Nagar cultivated paddy in a large quantity and encouraged them to make use of agricultural implements. While farmers belonging to the general category were given a subsidy of 50%, those who belong to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were eligible for 90% subsidy, he said. Emphasising that the government did not lack funds for development works even though it had spent about ₹90,000 crore on guarantee schemes, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the State currently ranked second in the country in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection, next only to Maharashtra. The State will aim for the top slot next year, he added. Pooh-poohing the BJP's janakrosha rallies as 'false propaganda', Mr. Siddaramaiah said the saffron party was spreading lies about price hike and a lack of development in the State. He said the 'public outrage' sought to be projected by the BJP was purely political, and there was no genuine discontent among the people. He cited the huge turnout of people at the Congress government's programme held recently at Hosapete to mark the completion of its two years of rule in the State as an example of public support for the government. The Chief Minister described MLA for K.R. Nagar, Ravishankar, as an honest person, who strives for the welfare of the people, and appealed to the people to re-elect him in the next elections. A council of Ministers, including Minister in charge of Mysuru district H.C. Mahadevappa, N. Boseraju, Byrathi Suresh, N. Cheluvarayaswamy, Dinesh Gundu Rao, and K. Venkatesh were also present on the occasion.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Stick to HC restriction on re-employment of college teachers after 60, RTI activist urges Higher Education Department
A Coimbatore-based RTI activist has made a representation to the Commissioner of Collegiate Education, urging a clear directive specifying the High Court's restriction on re-employment of college teachers beyond the age of 60. Referring to the Madras High Court verdict on October 4, 2024, in a case concerning the extension of service granted by the management of an aided college in Coimbatore to the principal who had reached the age of superannuation on June 5, N R Ravisankar - formerly Associate Professor and Head, Department of Mathematics, CBM College, Coimbatore - said that retirement should not be deferred merely because it falls shortly after the academic year begins. The judgment read, 'Just because a person retires a few days after the academic year commences, the services should not be extended by taking advantage of the Government Order. The objective behind the Government Order has to be appreciated, and the extension of service must take place by considering the letter and spirit behind it.' The judgment said that the retirement of the seventh respondent (the principal), which occurred at the beginning of the academic year, cannot be construed as falling in the middle of the academic year, and accordingly, the Government Order should not have been applied in the case. The third respondent (Director of Collegiate Education) has completely lost sight of this and has mechanically granted extension, the judgement said. The sixth respondent (college management) was directed to complete the process of appointing a new principal within six months from the date of judgement. The amendment in Government Order 92 of the HRM Department states, 'Every government servant in the superior as well as basic service shall retire on the afternoon of the last day of attainment of the age of sixty years.' Interpreting the judgment differently and permitting re-employment beyond the age of 60 would amount to 'disobedience to law', causing loss to the exchequer and warranting unnecessary legal wrangles, Prof. Ravishankar said in his representation, copies of which were forwarded to the Regional Joint Directors of Collegiate Education at Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi, Tirunelveli and Vellore. This was the right time for the issuance of necessary proceedings, for any further delay would complicate matters, and lead colleges to seek re-employment at their convenience, ignoring the intent of the High Court directive.
