Centre sets ball rolling for quota in promotions

NEW DELHI: The Centre is set to start the process of collecting data on the representation of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) employees at all levels of government, according to an official order, marking the crucial first step in implementing reservation in promotion for these groups that have emerged as key electoral forces in recent years.

Collection of quantifiable data on the inadequacy of representation of social groups is a prerequisite condition for providing quotas in promotion, according to a raft of judgments by the Supreme Court over the last two decades. The latest of these verdicts came on January 28, and the apex court has since refused to review its stand on the importance of data before implementing quotas.

An order by the central department of personnel and training (DoPT) dated April 12, seen by HT, asked all ministries and departments to adhere to the Supreme Court’s guidelines – the first time in six years that it has initiated the process of giving reservation in promotion to SCs and STs.

The move appears to be aimed at ameliorating the two communities that are angry at the years-long delay in clearing promotions for officers belonging to these groups. SCs and STs have 15% and 7.5% reservation in government jobs, respectively, and together form more than a quarter of the country’s population.

In recent years, they have emerged as a key political lever with the potential to make or break elections, with many political parties vying for their support.