Vijay Bhaskar to be Karnataka's new Chief Secretary
Bengaluru, June 30: Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer T.M. Vijay Bhaskar will be Karnataka's new Chief Secretary, replacing K. Ratna Prabha who retired on superannuation on Saturday, an official notification said.
A 1983-batch officer of the Karnataka cadre, Bhaskar, 57, was earlier the Additional Chief Secretary to the state government.
He was the former Bengaluru civic body's administrator.
Prabha, 59, was on a three-month extension since April 1 due to the Assembly poll on May 12 in the southern state.
She was the first Dalit woman to become Chief Secretary in Karnataka and the third woman officer to hold the top administrative post.
On her retirement from office, Prabha in a tweet said: "It is time to hang my boots and cannot believe 37 years of service is over...My USP has been public grievances."
"...I appeal to my fellow officers to make it a habit to meet people and help at least one person a day no matter how busy you are...I have followed this all my life and it has never let me down."
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said Prabha has been a pillar of strength to women in Karnataka.
"Good officers lead by example. Your zeal to solve people's problems will always be remembered. You are a pillar of strength to many women in Karnataka..," Parameshwara tweeted.
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Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Parliament early Friday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha had on Thursday approved the Bill after over a 12-hour debate.
In Rajya Sabha, the Bill got 128 votes in its favour and 95 against after all the amendments moved by the opposition were rejected.
In the lower house, the bill was supported by 288 MPs while 232 voted against it.
Participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Bill was brought with a number of amendments based on suggestions given by various stakeholders.
"The Waqf Board is a statutory body. All government bodies should be secular," the minister said, explaining the inclusion of non-Muslims on the board.
He, however, said the number of non-Muslims has been restricted to only four out of 22.
Rijiju also alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties, and not the BJP, were trying to scare Muslims with the Waqf Bill.
"You (opposition) are pushing Muslims out of the mainstream," he added.
He said for 60 years, the Congress and others ruled the country, but did not do much for Muslims and the community continues to live in poverty.
"Muslims are poor, who is responsible? You (Congress) are. Modi is now leading the government to uplift them," the minister said.
According to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Waqf tribunals will be strengthened, a structured selection process will be maintained, and a tenure will be fixed to ensure efficient dispute resolution.
As per the Bill, while Waqf institutions' mandatory contribution to Waqf boards is reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors.
A centralised portal will automate Waqf property management, improving efficiency and transparency.
The Bill proposes that practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.
It stipulates that women must receive their inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans.
The Bill proposes that an officer above the rank of collector investigate government properties claimed as Waqf.
It also proposes that non-Muslim members be included in the central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity.
