Proposals for SC/ST reservation in job promotions cleared

, Sept 4: The government on Tuesday cleared a proposal that would allow it to provide reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in promotion in state jobs. The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister

, approved the proposal for making provisions for quotas for SC/STs in promotions in government jobs.

The Cabinet nod clears the decks for introduction of a Constitution Amendment Bill in the ongoing session of Parliament, which has been a long-standing demand of all parties, barring the Samajwadi Party.

An all-party meeting, convened by the Prime Minister on Aug 21, had discussed the issue of reservation in promotion specifically in the wake of the decision of the Supreme Court striking down reservation in promotion to SCs and STs in Uttar Pradesh.

Most political parties had favoured a legally sustainable legislation in the backdrop of the Supreme Court order.

The proposed bill seeks to amend at least four articles of the Constitution to enable the government to provide quota in promotions to SC/STs. BSP leader Mayawati had raised the issue in Parliament after the Supreme Court had on Apr 28 struck down her government's decision in this regard.

Parliament had witnessed disruptions on the issue in the current as well as the previous session.

PTI