LUCKNOW: The Centre's approval to the Bill for amending constitutional
provisions to provide reservation for scheduled castes and scheduled
tribes (SC/ST) in promotions in government services has divided over 18
lakh government employees in Uttar Pradesh on caste lines.
Employees in opposition have announced to strike work on Wednesday under the banner of Sarvajan Hitai Sanrakshan Samiti (SHSS), whereas employees who supporting quota have under Arakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (ABSS) have welcomed the decision and announced to put in extra four hours of work to make up for the loss due to strike called by the rival faction. The two groups have been at the loggerheads since long. On Tuesday, both held separate meetings and announced their course of action.
SHSS president Shailendra Dubey announced that around 18 lakh employees of the UP government, barring those in emergency services, would observe strike tomorrow against union government move. The employees would stage protest meetings against the move at the district-level and also in the state capital. Dubey said that the reservation in promotion is an attempt to disturb the basic structure of the Constitution and encroach upon the right to equality. He added that there have been four attempts in the past to amend the Indian Constitution and this is the fifth, which three crore employees of India would not tolerate.
However, RK Dohere, secretary, ABSS, said that seven lakh employees supporting quota in promotions will work four hours extra on Wednesday, not only to compensate for the loss due to strike call by the rivals, but also to express their joy over the union government's move. "After the meeting, we have decided that, if required, we will create a control room to carry out emergency services for the people," he added. The ABSS has also supported reservation for the other backward classes (OBCs) in the reservation. He said that the ABSS will continue to fight till the constitutional amendment bill is passed by the Parliament.
The SHSS was formed in 2007 when Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government in the state introduced reservation in promotions in state government jobs. The decision of the state government was struck down by the High Court in 2011. However, the state government challenged the high court decision in the Supreme Court. It was during this period, the ABSS was formed. But the apex court upheld high court's order in April this year. In the meantime, the Samajwadi Party (SP) came to power. Acting on the Supreme Court's order, the SP government scrapped quota in promotions and amended the service rules.
The amendment was later approved by the UP state legislative assembly. However, it was rejected by the legislative council where the BSP is still in majority. The BSP members, however, while voting against the amendment demanded that state government should press the central government for constitutional amendment to provide quota facility in promotions. They pointed out that the BSP chief, Mayawati, had already demanded in Rajya Sabha for amendment in the constitution. However, after assembly and council sessions were over, the SP government brought an ordinance scrapping the quota.
Employees in opposition have announced to strike work on Wednesday under the banner of Sarvajan Hitai Sanrakshan Samiti (SHSS), whereas employees who supporting quota have under Arakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (ABSS) have welcomed the decision and announced to put in extra four hours of work to make up for the loss due to strike called by the rival faction. The two groups have been at the loggerheads since long. On Tuesday, both held separate meetings and announced their course of action.
SHSS president Shailendra Dubey announced that around 18 lakh employees of the UP government, barring those in emergency services, would observe strike tomorrow against union government move. The employees would stage protest meetings against the move at the district-level and also in the state capital. Dubey said that the reservation in promotion is an attempt to disturb the basic structure of the Constitution and encroach upon the right to equality. He added that there have been four attempts in the past to amend the Indian Constitution and this is the fifth, which three crore employees of India would not tolerate.
However, RK Dohere, secretary, ABSS, said that seven lakh employees supporting quota in promotions will work four hours extra on Wednesday, not only to compensate for the loss due to strike call by the rivals, but also to express their joy over the union government's move. "After the meeting, we have decided that, if required, we will create a control room to carry out emergency services for the people," he added. The ABSS has also supported reservation for the other backward classes (OBCs) in the reservation. He said that the ABSS will continue to fight till the constitutional amendment bill is passed by the Parliament.
The SHSS was formed in 2007 when Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government in the state introduced reservation in promotions in state government jobs. The decision of the state government was struck down by the High Court in 2011. However, the state government challenged the high court decision in the Supreme Court. It was during this period, the ABSS was formed. But the apex court upheld high court's order in April this year. In the meantime, the Samajwadi Party (SP) came to power. Acting on the Supreme Court's order, the SP government scrapped quota in promotions and amended the service rules.
The amendment was later approved by the UP state legislative assembly. However, it was rejected by the legislative council where the BSP is still in majority. The BSP members, however, while voting against the amendment demanded that state government should press the central government for constitutional amendment to provide quota facility in promotions. They pointed out that the BSP chief, Mayawati, had already demanded in Rajya Sabha for amendment in the constitution. However, after assembly and council sessions were over, the SP government brought an ordinance scrapping the quota.
Source : The Times of India, Sept 5, 2012
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