In an Independence Day gift to ex-servicemen, the Union Government has decided that those applying for vacancies before undertaking any government job on the civil side would continue to be entitled to Armed Forces’ reservation benefits for any subsequent employment.
Ex-servicemen are eligible for 10 per cent reservation in Group C and 20 per cent in Group D posts in all the central civil services. Benefit of reservation is also extended at 10 per cent of the vacancies in the posts up to the level of Assistant Commandant in all para-military forces to be filled by direct recruitment.
“An ex-serviceman, at the time of his release or discharge from the Armed Forces, normally applies for more than one vacancy, but in case he/she joins any civil employment due to early declaration of results/selection, he/she is not entitled to the benefit of reservation for ex-servicemen for subsequent employment. It has been brought to the notice of this department that the aforesaid instructions (orders issued 1979 onwards) are affecting the chances of ex-servicemen in the case of direct recruitment for subsequent suitable employment,” said an Office Memorandum by S. Srinivasan, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India, on Thursday.
“The matter has, therefore, been considered in consultation with the Department of Ex-servicemen, Ministry of Defence. It has now been decided that if any ex-serviceman applies for various vacancies before joining any civil employment, he/she can avail of the benefit of reservation as ex-serviceman for any subsequent employment,” said the memorandum.
“However, to avail of this benefit, an ex-serviceman — as soon as he/she joins any civil employment — should give self-declaration/undertaking to the concerned employer about the date-wise details of application for various vacancies for which he/she had applied before joining the initial civil employment. Further, this benefit would be available only in respect of vacancies which are filled on direct recruitment and wherever reservation is applicable to the ex-servicemen.”
The Official Memorandum issued in May 1985 stated that on joining the government on the civil side after availing of reservation benefits, an ex-serviceman would be deemed a civil employee and would subsequently not be eligible for reservation benefits for further re-employment. The 1989 order clarified that the instructions would not apply to those who are re-employed by public or private sector on ad hoc basis and who can be removed at any time.
