The Union government's prompt move to place what was to be the biggest lateral entry into mid-level posts on the backburner has to be viewed in the backdrop of the issue having turned into a hot-button topic from the word go. It also marks the Modi government's first major retreat on a policy move.
In what would have been the biggest lateral entry into mid-level posts, the Union Public Service Commission had on August 17 put out an advertisement inviting applications for 45 posts of director, joint secretaries and deputy secretaries under various ministries and departments. However, the government has promptly placed the initiative on the backburner in the wake of the opposition pouncing upon the move to describe it as aimed at ending reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and voices from within the ruling coalition also coming out against it.
The letter written by Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (independent charge) of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions ministry to UPSC chairperson Preeti Sudan, seeking cancellation of the advertisement for lateral entry recruitment, conveys the ruling dispensation's keenness to fend off accusations of taking steps that in any way hamper reservations for the SC/ST and backward classes.
The issue of social justice and the Bharatiya Janata Party's alleged intent to amend the Constitution was a major talking point for the opposition parties during the Lok Sabha elections. The argument put forth by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders during the general elections was that the BJP wanted more than 400 seats so that it could change the Constitution and do away with reservations for the SC/ST and backward classes. The assessment in the political circles is that the theme of the Constitution did resonate with the Dalits, tribals and the backward classes in the elections and harmed the BJP, especially in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh.
Shortly after the UPSC came out with the advertisement, Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of undermining the Constitution and attempting to do away with reservation. “Reservation for SC, ST and OBC categories is being openly snatched away by recruiting through lateral entry for important posts in various ministries of the central government,” he posted on X.
In the message written in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi also said while the SC/ST and backward classes are already under-represented in the top bureaucratic positions, the lateral entry move would further exclude them. He described it as an attack on social justice and also accused the government of trying to bring in people who were affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
On the eve of the assembly elections, the opposition was looking to make social justice an important plank again and peg it on the lateral entry move.
Allies like the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and the Janata Dal (United), which count the Dalits and the backward communities amongst their constituents, too went public with their concerns. And this would have further strengthened the campaign of the opposition parties.
Singh's letter made it amply clear that the government was keen not to allow the opposition to corner it on the issue of social justice ahead of elections. The letter credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the decision to review the lateral entry initiative saying, “He is of the firm belief that the process of lateral entry must be aligned with the principles of equity and social justice enshrined in our Constitution, particularly concerning the provisions of reservation.”
The letter further said that for the prime minister, 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 provisions for reservation in these appointments. This aspect needs to be reviewed and reformed in the context of the honourable prime minister's focus on ensuring social justice,” the letter said.
Meanwhile, the opposition was quick to describe the government's decision to review the lateral entry initiative as a sign of the weakening of the prime minister's authority post the Lok Sabha elections.
“2024 has given us two outcomes: a weak Prime Minister and a strong People's Leader of the Opposition. In the end, it's a victory of our Constitution,” Manickam Tagore, Congress' whip in the Lok Sabha, wrote on X.
