BENGALURU: With the decision to implement 15 per cent internal quota for Scheduled Castes (SCs), the government on Friday overcame a major hurdle in filling up 56,432 department vacancies. It comes as a ray of hope for youngsters who had hit the streets, staging anti-government demonstrations in Dharwad a few weeks ago, over delay in recruitment.
With jobs dwindling in the private sector due to various factors, including the intervention of AI, youths especially in rural areas, began looking towards secure government jobs, while the government was caught in the quota quagmire.
“As announced in the budget, we are starting recruitment immediately, by keeping 6 per cent vacancies as backlog and will issue the notification tomorrow itself,” Siddaramaiah told the media after the cabinet meeting. The government would fill up all vacancies in a phased manner over the next few years, he added.
He also stated that the recruitment process will start and a notification will be issued soon for 15 per cent quota for SCs, as the court has ordered that total quota for SC/STs/OBCs should not cross 50 per cent ceiling.
“The recruitment will be for 50 per cent till the high court gives a final verdict. Our government is already committed to the decision to provide 56 per cent reservation,” he stated.
He clarified that 6 per cent reservation, a hike of 2 per cent for SCs from 15 to 17 per cent, and 4 per cent for STs, from 3 to 7 per cent, will be considered as backlog until the High Court’s order. “Our government is committed to providing 24 per cent reservation -- 17 per cent for Scheduled Castes and 7 per cent for Scheduled Tribes -- if the court verdict is in favour of the government. Until then, 6 per cent will be kept aside as backlog as per the 6:6:5 ratio of internal reservation decided in the cabinet earlier,” he promised.
A single-member commission was formed under the chairmanship of retired judge Justice Nagamohan Das, who had recommended providing internal reservation, following which the government had decided to give 6:6:5 ratio of internal reservation for SC left, SC right and Bhovi, Lambani, Koracha, Korama and other nomadic castes respectively.
A total of 24 per cent, including 7 per cent for STs and 17 per cent for SCs, was done. Thus, a total of 56 per cent reservation was given, he explained, adding that the court had reiterated that total reservation should not exceed 50 per cent, citing the Indra Sawhney versus Union of India (1992) case.
He noted that the Congress government has fulfilled its promise to the 101 castes among Scheduled Caste at a rally held in Chitradurga ahead of the 2023 assembly polls.