No law for implementing quota in services: SC panel chief
Nearly six decades after the country's independence, there is still no law to enforce the quotas for under-privileged classes in government jobs, National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman Suraj Bhan has said.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Nearly six decades after the country's independence, there is still no law to enforce the quotas for under-privileged classes in government jobs, National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman Suraj Bhan has said.
"Since Independence, there is no law on implementation of reservation in services. If someone defies the reservation policy, no one can hold him guilty. There is not a single instance where a person was even warned for non-implementation of quota," said Bhan.
The government brought a bill on this issue in Parliament some time back but it is yet to be passed by the House. But even this proposed law does not lay down any penalties, he said.
"Unfortunately the proposed bill does not have a penal clause. It is like a toothless tiger. It seems nobody is serious," he said.
Bhan claimed even the Parliament secretariat did not follow the quota system while making appointments to various posts.
"It is really unfortunate that in the Parliament (secretariat), which is considered the temple of our democracy and where laws are being framed, there is no reservation for jobs," he claimed.
Bhan favoured an increase in reservations for Scheduled Castes in both jobs and academic institutions since their population has increased "manifold" since the introduction of the quota.
"Following the 2001 census, it has been recommended that the quota for Scheduled Castes be increased from the current 15 per cent to 16.23 per cent. But that has not been implemented so far," he said.
Bhan expressed concern at "attempts" by some state governments to include some backward castes into the list of Scheduled Castes for "political reasons".
"Last year, the Uttar Pradesh government wanted to include 16 OBCs in the SC list by issuing a notification. Fortunately, the attempt was stopped by a high court order. This a very unfortunate trend," he said.
Bhan said no state government could include any caste into the list of Scheduled Castes without the concurence of Pariliament and such a move would automatically become "unconstitutional".
He claimed that "large-scale" atrocities and discriminations against Scheduled Caste employees are being carried out in different parts of the country without anyone's notice.
"Such incidents are very high in states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu," he claimed.
"Since Independence, there is no law on implementation of reservation in services. If someone defies the reservation policy, no one can hold him guilty. There is not a single instance where a person was even warned for non-implementation of quota," said Bhan.
The government brought a bill on this issue in Parliament some time back but it is yet to be passed by the House. But even this proposed law does not lay down any penalties, he said.
"Unfortunately the proposed bill does not have a penal clause. It is like a toothless tiger. It seems nobody is serious," he said.
Bhan claimed even the Parliament secretariat did not follow the quota system while making appointments to various posts.
"It is really unfortunate that in the Parliament (secretariat), which is considered the temple of our democracy and where laws are being framed, there is no reservation for jobs," he claimed.
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Bhan favoured an increase in reservations for Scheduled Castes in both jobs and academic institutions since their population has increased "manifold" since the introduction of the quota.
"Following the 2001 census, it has been recommended that the quota for Scheduled Castes be increased from the current 15 per cent to 16.23 per cent. But that has not been implemented so far," he said.
Bhan expressed concern at "attempts" by some state governments to include some backward castes into the list of Scheduled Castes for "political reasons".
"Last year, the Uttar Pradesh government wanted to include 16 OBCs in the SC list by issuing a notification. Fortunately, the attempt was stopped by a high court order. This a very unfortunate trend," he said.
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Bhan said no state government could include any caste into the list of Scheduled Castes without the concurence of Pariliament and such a move would automatically become "unconstitutional".
He claimed that "large-scale" atrocities and discriminations against Scheduled Caste employees are being carried out in different parts of the country without anyone's notice.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Such incidents are very high in states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu," he claimed.
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