CHANDIGARH: The general category employees will take out a protest march on June 17 in 18 states across India against the proposed reservation in promotion to SC/ST employees. The rallies will be held at Bhatinda and Patiala in Punjab, Kurukshetra in Haryana and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh.
The rallies are being held under the banner of All India Equality Forum, Punjab General category Welfare Federation. Sarvjan Hitaye Sarankshan Samiti Uttar Pradesh, Haryana Samanya Avem Pichhra Karamchari Varg Manch and supported by other like-minded groups.
Caste-based reservation in services was initially introduced for a period of 10 years to give benefits to the SC/ST employees but this is being extended regularly. The concept of reservation in promotions for SC/ST employees was introduced by way of 85th amendment in the constitution but this amendment could not pass the test of Supreme Court.
Now the 117th constitutional amendment bill providing quota in promotions on government posts to SCs and STs was passed in Rajya Sabha but the same is pending in Lok Sabha and the government is bent upon passing it in next session.
It may be mentioned that apex court had ruled that while granting reservation in promotion the government must prove that the persons who are to be given out of turn promotion are really backward by providing quantifiable data. The particular cast is not adequately represented in the services and such promotions do not affect the administrative efficiency.