MP: Anti-reservation front woos OBC staff to form pressure group

In an interesting development post Madhya Pradesh high court judgment on reservation in promotions, the anti-quota employees’ leaders have decided to rope in backward class employees and officers’ associations in their fight to put pressure on the government to implement the judgment.

In an interesting development post Madhya Pradesh high court judgment on reservation in promotions, the anti-quota employees’ leaders have decided to rope in backward class employees and officers’ associations in their fight to put pressure on the government to implement the judgment.

The court had declared reservations in promotions null and void.

Thus, more than 30,000 promotions done under the rules in the past 14 years were considered in contravention to the Supreme Court guidelines.

The anti-quota employees’ leaders are in talk with backward class employees and officials to formally declare constitution of an MP Samanya Jati Evam Pichhda Varg Adhikari Karmchari Sanyukt Morcha on Monday to safeguard their interest in view of the state government’s stand that it will file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the high court judgment.

Talking to the Hindustan Times, the joint action forum spokesperson, Laxminarayan Sharma, said they were in talks with the backward class employees and officers’ associations and they would be a part of the action forum too as the backward class employees and officers were also affected by the government’s policy on reservation in promotions.

He said the chief minister’s statement that the state government would file a petition against the judgment raised suspicion that the government would not implement the high court judgment.

However, as per the judgment those who were awarded promotions under the rule stood reverted to their previous posts, hence if the government didn’t implement the court order to divest the scheduled caste and scheduled tribes employees and officers of the posts, it would be contempt of the court.

He said their associations might consider filing a contempt petition as well if the government didn’t implement the judgment.

Anusuchit Jati and Janjati Adhikari and Karmchari Sangh general secretary SL Suryavanshi said their stand was clear that they would challenge the judgment in the Supreme Court.

Contentious issue

Order affects 30,000, promotions done under the 2002 Madhya Pradesh Public Service Rules in the past 14 years

The Madhya Pradesh high court struck down reservations for scheduled castes and tribes in government job promotions on Saturday, an order that immediately affects over 30,000 officers and employees with possible implication in other states

The division bench set aside promotions under the 2002 Madhya Pradesh Public Service Rules – that reserves 16% posts for scheduled castes and 20% for scheduled tribes in elevations – saying they violated Supreme Court guidelines

The rules were brought in by then Congress government

The state BJP government said it will challenge the order in the Supreme Court

In 2006, the top court said states couldn’t provide quotas in promotions without collecting “quantifiable” data showing “backwardness” of the class and their inadequate representation on public employment.