The Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Vichar Manch has opposed the Centre's move to bring out a compendium on ‘Reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in Service' pending enactment of a new law.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, general secretary said “no convincing grounds for issue of a new compendium on reservation in services have been mentioned in the proposed official memorandum.” Nor had any reason for denying reservation in every service and post been explained, or any constitutional provision under which job reservation had been prescribed for the SC/ST.
The Manch pointed out that no mandatory consultation had been held with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and no opportunity was given to the SC/ST Employees Welfare Associations, which were on the panel of the Union Home Ministry.
The proposed consolidated instructions on the reservation policy lacked constitutional authority. These constructions “do not contain the origin of determination of population-based percentage, its detailed criteria and showing the table of population from time to time since independence.”
Mr. Kain said the reservation policy for the OBCs should not be clubbed with that for the SC/ST as their ground realities were different.
“They suffer no social stigma or untouchability and they got reservation only at the expense of SC/ST people.”
The Manch opposed the new methodology of recruitment through ‘walk-in-interview' for higher posts in the administration and the engineering department, and for scientific and technical posts and in hospitals for a limited period.
The reservation policy was not being followed in these appointments, and this practice should be discontinued forthwith.
While voicing its protest against bringing out a compendium without Cabinet approval, the Manch sought the Prime Minister's intervention.
