PATIALA: There is resentment among general and other reserved categories employees against the move of the Punjab Government for allowing consequential seniority upon reservation in promotions as per the 85th amendment.
Jaswant Singh Dhaliwal State President General Category Welfare Federation Punjab in a press statement hs urged the state government to discuss the matter with the federation and other stakeholders before making any decision.
It may be mentioned that the Supreme Court in M Nagaraj’s case laid down the condition to exclude creamy layer of scheduled caste employees from benefit of reservation in promotion was imposed. But to date even after lapses of more than 14 years, the government has not taken any decision regarding the creamy layer. The apex court also imposed other conditions in its judgment of 19th. October 2006 that before fulfilling these conditions benefit of consequential seniority upon promotions under reservation can not be allowed.
Supreme Court in its judgment of 26th. September 2018 upheld all conditions imposed by the apex court in M Nagaraj’s case, except condition regarding the collection of data regarding backwardness.
Dhaliwal said that as per data collected by Punjab Government in 2018, the percentage of Scheduled caste, candidates are in excess in initial recruitment as well as in promotion against permissible limits.
Allowing consequential seniority upon promotions due to reservation as per the 85th amendment is against judgments and will certainly lead to contempt of court proceedings.
General Categories Welfare Federation Punjab condemns this move of Punjab Government and warns to take course of legal remedies, the responsibility of which will certainly lie with Punjab Government.