Modi govt makes lateral entry U-turn, seeks scrapping of ad for 45 specialists

In the letter, Singh noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'is of the firm belief that the process of lateral entry must be aligned with the principles of equality and social justice ... particularly concerning provisions of reservation.'

New Delhi: Under pressure from NDA allies and the Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc, the Narendra Modi government on Tuesday asked the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to cancel the drive to recruit 45 specialists through lateral entry into top bureaucracy, saying it wants to introduce quota in such appointments to ensure social justice.

Later in the day, UPSC announced the cancellation of the recruitment process.

In a letter to UPSC Chairperson Preeti Sudan, Minister of State for Personnel Dr Jitendra Singh said the advertised positions have been treated as specialised and designated as single cadre posts with no provision for quota but this aspect needs to be “reviewed and reformed” in the context of the Prime Minister’s “focus on ensuring social justice”.

“It is important that the constitutional mandate towards social justice is upheld so that deserving candidates from marginalised communities get their rightful representation in the government services…I urge the UPSC to cancel the advertisement for local entry recruitment issued on 17 August, 2024. This step would be a significant advance in the pursuit of social justice and empowerment,” he wrote.

The minister said the Prime Minister is of firm belief that the process of lateral entry must be aligned with the principles of equity and social justice, “particularly concerning reservation”. “For the Prime Minister, reservation in public appointments is a cornerstone of our social justice framework, aimed at addressing historical injustices and promoting inclusivity”.

The government’s move came as Congress and I.N.D.I.A. bloc parties were joined by BJP allies Nitish Kumar-led JD(U), Chirag Paswan-led LJP (Ramvilas) and Jiten Ram Manjhi-led HAM in protesting against the move, saying it sabotaged the existing quota regime though government defended the move initially.

The letter also came a day after Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Arjun Ram Meghwal, a senior Dalit leader from Rajasthan, were fielded by the ruling BJP to defend the programme and attacking the Congress, saying it had pioneered the scheme. The government also cited ten names, including Manmohan Singh and Montek Singh Alhuwalia, as those who entered government service through lateral entry.

In the letter, Singh referred to the M Veerappa Moily-led Second Administrative Reforms Commission, which was set up by the UPA government in 2005, and Sixth Pay Commission report in 2013. He alleged that posts of Secretaries in ministries and leadership of UIDAI among others were given to lateral entrants without following any process of reservation.

Further, he claimed, it is well known that the members of the “infamous” National Advisory Council, which was headed by then UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, used to run a “super bureaucracy” that controlled the Prime Minister’s Office.

“While most of the major lateral entries before 2014 were made in an ad-hoc manner, including cases of alleged favouritism, efforts of our government have been to make the process institutionally driven, transparent and open,” the minister said.