The Centre on Tuesday wrote to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) seeking cancellation of its latest advertisement for lateral entry into 45 government positions.
In the letter addressed to UPSC Chairman Preeti Sudan, the Centre noted that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a review of the scheme to align it with the principles of reservation- – a demand that has also been voiced by opposition parties and two key NDA allies, the LJP and the JDU.
Currently, the lateral entry scheme does not adhere to the reservation formula, as the Centre argues that these are “single-cadre posts” treated as specialised jobs.
“This aspect needs to be reviewed and reformed in light of the Prime Minister’s focus on ensuring social justice. The PM firmly believes that the process of lateral entry must be aligned with the principles of equity and social justice enshrined in the Constitution, particularly with regard to reservation provisions,” stated the letter from Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Minister Jitendra Singh.
The Centre’s letter indicates that the PM has taken direct cognisance of the uproar over the lateral entry issue. “For the PM, reservation in public employment is a cornerstone of our social justice framework, aimed as addressing historical injustices and promoting inclusivity. It is important that the constitutional mandate towards social justice is upheld so that deserving candidates from marginalised communities get their rightful; representation in the government services,” the letter stated.
On August 17, the UPSC advertised 45 posts—10 of joint secretaries and 35 of directors/deputy secretaries—to be filled through the lateral entry mode on a contract basis. This scheme aims to appoint specialists (including those from the private sector) in government departments.
The Congress party and other opposition groups have criticised the Modi government since the advertisement’s release, with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi questioning why SCs, STs, and OBCs were not granted reservations.
The pressure on the government increased after LJP’s Chirag Paswan and JDU’s KC Tyagi on Monday stated that the lateral entry scheme without reservation was unacceptable to them. Both are key BJP allies.
Earlier, the government had to refer the Waqf Amendment Bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee after both the LJP and the TDP, along with the opposition, demanded it following a vociferous protest in Parliament.
Additionally, the government recently had to withdraw the draft broadcasting bill, which faced criticism for its tough provisions against social media influencers. The opposition is using these instances to argue that the current NDA government is “weak” and dependent on its allies for survival.
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