Karnataka Cabinet passes resolution against RAM G Act, to challenge the law in courts

The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to challenge the validity of VB-G RAM G Act in court and take the “anti-people legislation to the peoples’ court by making them aware of the adverse impact of the Act through holding special Gram Sabhas.”

The Cabinet passed a resolution disapproving of the modifications and renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).

The Cabinet consulted Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty on the Constitutional and legal implications of the VB-G RAM G Act. After detailed discussion on various provisions of the law, the Cabinet unanimously decided not to accept the Act and to challenge the same in the court of law.


The government, according to an official statement, would challenge the VB-G RAM G Act on the grounds that it was in violation of the Right to Work and Livelihood of the citizens as enshrined under Article 21 of the constitution of India.

The Act would trample upon the legitimate rights of Panchayats as vested by the constitution and is against the spirit of 73rd and 74th amendment to the constitution. The bottom-up planning approach, as per local requirements, has been compromised.

The Act affects the federal structure as it completely excluded the States from the consultation process. The union government also unilaterally decided to mandate the States to bear 40% of the expenditure.

“The VB G RAM G Act is a serious aberration of social and economic rights of rural people as on one hand the works will only be available in the areas as notified by Central Government and on other hand at the wage rate fixed by Centre without any guarantee to the minimum wages fixed by the State Governments,” the official statement said.

The Act, the statement added, defeats the spirit of Gram Swaraj as panchayats will neither have the freedom to choose the works as per local requirements or the priority of works.