Karnataka brings government employees’ services under Sakala Act; hefty fines for delays and malicious complaints

Under the Karnataka Sakala Services (Amendment) Act, 2026, the government has revised financial penalties for defaulting officials as well as citizens filing frivolous or malicious grievances. Photo: www.rguhsaca.karnataka.gov.in

In a major administrative reform, the State government has issued a notification bringing a wide array of personnel and service-related requests of government employees under the ambit of the Karnataka Sakala Services Act, 2011. Concurrently, under the Karnataka Sakala Services (Amendment) Act, 2026, the government has revised financial penalties for defaulting officials as well as citizens filing frivolous or malicious grievances.

Following recommendations from the seventh report of the Administrative Reforms Commission-2, time-bound delivery of internal staff services has been extended across all field-level departments and organisations. The notification issued by Harsha Gupta, Principal Secretary of the Praja Seva Department, stated that strict timelines have been fixed to ensure public service delivery is transparent, efficient, and accountable.

Prescribed timelines for civil services