Telangana Governor Puts a Hold on RTC-Government Merger Plan
The proposed Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (Absorption of Employees into Government Service) Bill, 2023, is emerging as a potential point of disagreement between the BRS government and Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan. As the assembly session’s conclusion approaches, the draft bill sent by the government is still awaiting approval from Raj Bhavan.
What is the main goal of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (Absorption of Employees into Government Service) Bill, 2023?
The primary objective of this bill is to facilitate the integration of more than 43,000 employees from the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) into various government service positions.
Due to the nature of the bill involving financial matters, it is categorized as a money bill. Consequently, it necessitates the Governor’s consent before it can be introduced and discussed within the Assembly.
Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan mentioned that she will sign the Bill only after thoroughly reviewing all legal aspects, and this process will require additional time.
As a result, the government’s plan, led by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, to introduce the Bill during the ongoing monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly has hit a snag. With just two days left in the session, the likelihood of presenting the TSRTC merger Bill before the session ends seems extremely low. The Chief Minister is expected to address this matter in the Assembly on Saturday.
Even if the government considers passing an ordinance, it still requires the Governor’s approval. If the Governor provides her consent at a later date but before the election code is enforced, the government might call for a special Assembly session to pass the Bill.
According to a message from the Governor’s office, the Assembly was planned to meet on August 3rd. Yet, the draft of ‘The TSRTC (Absorption of Employees into Government Service) Bill, 2023’ reached Raj Bhavan at approximately 3:30 pm on August 2nd. This draft asked for permission to introduce the bill. Further time is needed to assess the bill and seek legal advice before making a decision on this request.”
Because the TSRTC Bill falls under the category of a financial bill, the Governor’s approval is crucial before it can be presented in the Assembly.
At present, the state government seems uncertain about its next steps in this matter. Meanwhile, the RTC employees are left wondering if the Bill will even be introduced and passed in this Assembly session or if they will have to wait for a new government to take over.
Tensions have been rising between the state government and the Governor since she rejected four Bills last September, even though they had been approved by the Legislative Assembly. This clash led the government to approach both the Supreme Court and the High Court, seeking intervention. The Governor eventually agreed to clear certain Bills after the High Court’s involvement.
Official sources reveal that the Chief Minister is exploring different options following these recent developments. The government might consider appealing to either the High Court or the Supreme Court regarding the TSRTC merger issue.
Even if the government decides to enact an ordinance, it still needs the Governor’s consent. If the Governor provides her approval before the election code is enforced, the government could arrange a special Assembly session to pass the Bill.
In July, the state Cabinet granted approval for the merger of TSRTC with the state government. This move would result in around 43,372 employees being absorbed into the state government, providing them with job security—a demand they’ve had for a long time.
In summary, the planned merger between TSRTC and the state government has hit a roadblock due to the Governor’s decision to examine the legal aspects before signing the Bill. The government’s attempt to introduce the Bill during the current Assembly session has been disrupted. It remains uncertain whether the Bill will be passed in this session or postponed until a new government takes over. The Chief Minister is evaluating different courses of action, including the possibility of seeking legal intervention through the High Court or Supreme Court.