Twitter
Advertisement

Tainted Karnataka labour dept official gets promoted, for two days

HS Uthappa, against whom the police have filed two charge-sheets, was promoted against the law department’s rejection of the promotion proposal.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Two days before retirement, a tainted joint commissioner in the labour department got promoted to hold the charge of additional labour commissioner.

HS Uthappa, against whom the police have filed two charge-sheets, was promoted against the law department’s rejection of the promotion proposal.

Uthappa faces two charges —sexual harassment and threatening a junior female colleague in 2009.

Uthappa’s promotion was cleared on Friday and he will be holding charge as additional commissioner for just two working days — Saturday and Monday.

“We are really shocked to find that Uthappa was promoted much against the warnings of the law department. We met labour secretary Ramesh Bindurao Zalki, chief secretary SV Ranganath and gave them our representation to desist from such a move. We had also sent representation to labour minister, BN Bache Gowda and chief minister BS Yeddyurappa. But, we find our voice was not heard. We will take up the case in the high court to bring justice to the victim,” said Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC) president GR Shivashankar.

He said if justice is not delivered to the staff, it implies that a large number of workers, whose welfare the labour department is entrusted with, cannot expect better treatment from the officials.

Uthappa, who held the post of labour welfare board chairman, has been accused of sexually harassing a colleague in 2009. He also threatened her to withdraw the complaint.

He was suspended following the complaint, but was reinstated a month later, overlooking the law department’s objection, department sources said.

Uthappa was charge-sheeted separately in both the cases. A city court has been hearing the cases (CC No 18881/09 under Sections 354, 506 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and CC No 32269/2010 under Section 506 of the IPC).

“As the case is under trial, it is illegal to give promotion to such an official. We suspect foul play in the entire exercise as the tainted official was rewarded for committing a criminal offence,” Shivashankar said.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement