SC, ST employees to get quota in promotion at both Centre, states: Paswan

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday said reservation in promotion for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) will continue at both at the Centre and in the states and directives in this regard will be issued soon.

"There was confusion over whether the Supreme Court's order was applicable for just Central government employees or for state government employees. In our meeting of ministers, it was cleared that the reservation is for both Central and state government employees," Paswan told reporters after attending the meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

The apex court had said last week that the government was not debarred from making promotions in accordance with law, subject to further orders.

On June 5, the Supreme Court permitted the Central government to go ahead with reservation in promotions to certain categories of staff in accordance with law but did not stay a Delhi High Court judgment that quashed an office memorandum on such reservations.

Paswan said the quota in promotion was halted on account of the judgements passed by different high courts in the country.

The minister also said the government was ready with an ordinance to overturn the Supreme Court's March 20 order that puts safeguards against arrests under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act but it would wait for the court's final decision on the review petitions.

He also said the University Grant Commission (UGC) will also soon withdraw its order affecting reservation soon.

Paswan also reiterated his demand of reservation for those preferring inter-caste marriages.

--IANS

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