Any deviation may dilute government's sensitivity, says Mamata on lateral entry
Kolkata, June 12: Raising "few concerns" on proposed government appointments through lateral entry, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said any deviation from the system, particularly by inducting professionals from non-governmental sector, notwithstanding their talent, may "dilute the sensitivity attached to the functioning of the government".
She also said there should be a "wider debate and discussion with different stakeholders" before implementing the proposed lateral entry into senior positions of the government.
"In my view, there is no objection if talented persons join the Central Government to improve its professional competence and efficiency. But I have few concerns about the issue involving various implications," she said in a Facebook post.
According to her, presently, the officers of All India/Central Services have been working in the government with "sincerity and accountability" and "maintaining secrecy, where the paramount interest of the nation remains supreme".
"In view of it, I feel that any deviation from the system, particularly by inducting professionals from non-governmental sector, notwithstanding their talent may dilute the sensitivity attached to the functioning of the government," she wrote.
Opening the doors of the bureaucracy for private sector professionals, the Central government on Sunday had invited applications for 10 Joint Secretary-level posts through lateral entry as opposed to those inducted through the UPSC exam.
Banerjee said the officers from All India Services/Central Services presently hold positions of Joint Secretary and equivalent levels in the Government of India, having been inducted in government services through transparent recruitment processes by Constitutional bodies like the UPSC. The officers are expected to be politically neutral while discharging their duties.
"Any shift from such standard will not be good for the nation," she said.
"Therefore, it is necessary to have wider debate and discussion with different stake-holders, including representatives of the All India Services/Central Services, before implementing the proposed induction of lateral entries into senior positions of the government," she said.
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Karnataka govt to strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy, after HC directive
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad has said that the government will strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy across all sectors at the earliest, following the High Court directive.
The High Court of Karnataka had recently directed the state government to "strictly and faithfully" implement the menstrual leave policy, pending formal enactment of the proposed legislation.
"I welcome the directive issued by the Karnataka High Court in support of our state government's ambitious menstrual leave policy," Lad said.
The state government has taken firm steps to implement the menstrual leave policy comprehensively, and as a model to the country, he said in a post on 'X' on Thursday.
"In line with the court's opinion that menstrual leave is a matter of women's dignity, justice, and humane recognition of their lived realities, we will strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy--equivalent to one day per month, or 12 days per year--across all sectors at the earliest," he added.
The court had said that in the interregnum, it shall be incumbent upon the state to ensure effective operationalisation of the policy through the issuance of suitable guidelines, circulars, and administrative instructions, as may be necessary to secure its uniform, consistent, and rigorous implementation across all sectors.
The court issued the directive while hearing on a petition filed by 41-year-old Chandravva Hanumant Gokavi, who works in a hotel in Mudalgi of Gokak taluk in Belagavi district, before the Dharwad bench, seeking implementation of the November 20, 2025, order of the government providing one-day menstrual leave for all working women.
