Reservation in promotion of SCs/STs in govt. jobs is states’ responsibility: SC
New Delhi, Jan. 29 (Delhi Crown): The Supreme Court of India has refused to dilute conditions for reservation in promotion for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in government jobs, saying that the onus for this lies with the government at the Centre and at the state level.
Stating that it cannot and will not lay down new yardsticks in this matter, a three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Justice Nageswara Rao, said that the states are obligated to collect data on why there still exists an inadequacy of representation of SCs and STs in government jobs.
State governments, it said, have to take on the responsibility of collecting quantifiable data before granting reservation in promotion to SC and ST employees.
The top court said: “The data on reservations must be collected on the basis of cadre-based vacancies. States must conduct a review for the purpose of providing reservation.”
The Centre had earlier told the court that it is a fact of life that even after around 75 years of independence, those belonging to SCs and STs have not been brought to the same level of merit as the forward classes.
The Supreme Court had last reserved its verdict on the matter on October 26, 2021.
