Cabinet nod to quota for SCs/STs in govt job promotions

The Cabinet nod clears the decks for introduction of a Constitution Amendment Bill in Parliament, a demand of most of the parties, barring the Samajwadi Party.

The Bill seeks to amend at least four Articles of the Constitution to enable the government to provide quota in promotions to SC/STs.

The previous Uttar Pradesh government headed by Mayawati had provided reservation benefits for SCs, STs in promotions to higher posts in government jobs.

The Supreme Court on April 28 quashed it, terming it as unconstitutional and done without any sufficient data.

Subsequently, when the current Monsoon session of Parliament began on August 8, several parties vociferously demanded that a bill be brought to circumvent the SC decision.

In view of these demands, the government promised on August 9 that a Bill would be brought in Parliament.

The Cabinet decision was today welcomed by BSP, which has been in the forefront in the demand, but Samajwadi Party criticised it and vowed to oppose.

BJP did not reveal its strategy even as BSP chief Mayawati met Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her counterpart in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley to seek their party's support in ensuring passage of the bill in this session.

The Constituent Amendment Bill will require two-third majority of the members present in each House for passage.

The government had convened an all-party meeting on August 21 to evolve consensus on the issue. At the meeting, most political parties had favoured the legislation but some parties like BJP had suggested that the government should not rush into such a decision and bring the only after carefully considering all pros and cons.(MORE)