The Karnataka government on Monday decided to promulgate an ordinance to scrap the law that bans employing women in night shifts, Minister for Labour and Wakf Iqbal Ansari said.

The cabinet on Monday held informal discussions in the face of women organisations demanding the abolition of the provisions of the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act 1961 that prohibits employing women in night shifts, Ansari said.

The law department has been asked to prepare a draft to annul Section 30, Sub-sec (3) and Column 25 of the 1961 Act in order to promulgate an ordinance to permit women to work in night shifts, he said.

In a clear somersault, Ansari said Karnataka had not imposed ban on night shifts for women as such a provision already existed under the 1961 Act.

Through an amendment of the existing act which was passed by the state legislature last month, the government has only enhanced penalty on those who violate the law, the minister said.

However, in the light of the government's decision to scrap the ban, the recent amendment which received Governor T N Chaturvedi's assent on April 27 and was notified in the Gazette on April 30 will be put on hold, he said.

The Labour department has been asked not to notify rules to give effect to the amendments enhancing fine from Rs 250 up to Rs 20,000 and also the clauses pertaining to imprisonment ranging from three months to one year, he said.