Bill to scrap year-long mandatory rural service for medical graduates moved in Karnataka Assembly
Belagavi, Dec 5: The Karnataka government moved three bills, including one that seeks to replace an ordinance to scrap the mandatory one-year service in rural areas for students graduating from medical colleges in the state, in the assembly on Tuesday.
The bill was tabled by Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.
Its statement of objects and reasons state that the bill amends sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Karnataka Compulsory Services by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, 2012.
It is to exempt candidates selected to central or state government services from compulsorily serving in rural areas.
Under the Karnataka Compulsory Service by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, all MBBS, postgraduate and super-speciality graduates were to serve a year compulsorily in government healthcare institutions in rural areas as junior residents.
In October, Law Minister HK Patil, in his briefing about the Cabinet decision on the ordinance, had said rural service would be confined to the number of vacant posts in the government.
Stating that the decision was taken as the number of applicants for rural service far exceeded vacancies in government hospitals, he had said the government was reducing the financial burden and also rationalising human resources with the move.
The government also moved the Karavali Development Board Bill for overall development of the Karavali (coastal) area and the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill to replace the ordinance.
The Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill amends the 1993 act to comply with the Karnataka High Court's directions to conduct elections to rural local bodies within the time limit by prescribing population limit for polls to taluks and zilla panchayats by excluding the Bhadravathi, Shivamogga and the Shikaripura taluks of Shivamogga district in proportion to their population.
ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷದ ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಕಡ್ಡಾಯ ಗ್ರಾಮೀಣ ಸೇವೆಯನ್ನ ಖಾಲಿ ಇರುವ ಹುದ್ದೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಬಳಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ವಿಧೇಯಕಕ್ಕೆ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ ತರಲಾಗಿದೆ. ವಿಧಾನ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ ವಿಧೇಯಕವನ್ನ ಮಂಡಿಸಿದೆ.
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) December 5, 2023
ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಸೇವೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ವೈದ್ಯರ ಕೊರತೆ ನೀಗಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು, ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಗ್ರಾಮೀಣ ಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ವೈದ್ಯರ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಪರಿಹಾರಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಈ ಹಿಂದೆ…
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
