SC disposes PIL seeking directions for SC/ST vacancies in police

New Delhi, Mar 28: The Supreme court today disposed off a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Centre, states and Union Territories to fill the SC/ST vacancies in the Police force as per the sanctioned strength.

A bench comprising Mrs Justice Ruma Pal, Mr Justice B N Sri Krishna and Mr Justice Dalveer Bhandari, disposed off the petition filed by one Prasad, seeking the implementation of the reservation policy in the police force.

Counsel for the petitioner submitted that throughout the country, about 1.21 lakh posts are lying vacant as far as the reserved categories are concerned. He also pleaded that the states are not able to control crime becasue of existing vacancies.

The Counsel also submitted that concession should be given to the SC/ST canditates as far as eligibility criteria, examinations and interviews are concerned.

The Centre, in its counter affidavit submitted that whenever posts are being filled, 20 per cent vacancies are being reserved for SC/ST candidates.

The government is not in a position to fill up all the sanctioned posts.

The state of Haryana, in its affidavit said the total strength of Haryana Police force was about 44,000 while the reserved category posts are more than 8,000.

The court, however, said that we cannot issue directions to the state to fill up all the sanctioned posts.

The court also said that the grievance of the petition was that the reservation policy was not being implemented, but now it is clear that the state was implementing the reservation policy wherever vacancies were being filled up.

UNI