The Centre after severe backlash asked the UPSC to withdraw the latest advertisement for lateral entry in bureaucracy, amid a row over reservation in the advertised posts.
Amidst protests from the Opposition and also from some NDA allies, including LJP(R), the Centre has asked the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to withdraw its advertisements for 45 posts of joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries, advertised three days ago.
“I thank my Prime Minister for seeking cancellation of lateral entry, on behalf of my Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). This government has set a precedent. Hopefully, regimes of future will show a similar sensitivity to public sentiments”, Paswan said.
It may recalled Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) President and Hajipur MP Chirag Paswan had earlier criticised the lateral entry process in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), calling it “completely wrong,” and stressed that he would raise this issue with the Union government. Paswan is the first NDA ally to openly oppose the lateral entry into 45 posts within the bureaucracy. He emphasised that his party, LJP (RV), is “absolutely not in favour” of such appointments, stressing that reservation provisions must be followed in all government appointments.
“Reservation provisions must be there in any government appointment. There is no ifs and buts in this. No reservation exists in the private sector and if it is not implemented in government positions as well… The information came up before me on Sunday and it is a matter of concern for me,” he said, news agency PTI reported.
Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh wrote to Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Chairman Preeti Sudan and asked her to cancel the advertisement so that marginalised communities get their rightful representation in government services.
The UPSC had on August 17 issued a notification for recruiting 45 joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries through lateral entry — referred to as appointment of specialists (including those from the private sector) in government departments.
The decision had ignited criticism from opposition parties, which claimed it undermined the reservation rights of OBCs, SCs and STs.
In his letter, Singh said that for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reservation in public employment is “a cornerstone of our social justice framework aimed at addressing historical injustices and promoting inclusivity”.
“Since these positions have been treated as specialised and designated as single-cadre posts, there has been no provision for reservation in these appointments. This aspect needs to be reviewed and reformed in the context of the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s focus on ensuring social justice,” Singh said.
“I urge the UPSC to cancel the advertisement for lateral entry recruitment issued on 17.8.2024,” he said.
This step would be a significant advance in the pursuit of social justice and empowerment, Singh said.
Lateral entry into bureaucracy is a direct assault on social justice and it deprived opportunities deserved for meritorious and minority officers from the reserved categories, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said .
💪🏾Victory for #SocialJustice! The Union Govt has withdrawn the lateral entry recruitment after strong opposition from our #INDIA bloc.
💂♀ But we must remain vigilant, as the Union BJP Govt will try to undermine reservation through various forms.
✊🏾 The arbitrary 50% ceiling…
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 20, 2024
He called upon the Central government to halt this practice, and instead prioritise filling backlog vacancies for OBCs, SC/STs, and ensure fair and equitable promotions.
“We demand the complete abolition of the creamy layer, a concept we have always opposed,” the chief minister said in a post on ‘X’.
In order to uphold social justice, safeguard reservation and ensure its rightful implementation, the following steps must be taken immediately, he said.
Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP and General Secretary in-charge Communications , Jairam Ramesh Tweeted on X
Lateral entry was advocated strongly in 2017 by the NITI Aayog and was actually announced a year later as a big reform measure that would transform the civil service.
Since 2019, there have been 63 appointments through lateral entry. A further 45 were planned this year but…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 20, 2024
