Reservation in Promotion: Govt defers plan to bring Bill

Govt defers plan to bring Bill for job promotion reservation

Government’s plan to bring an amended Bill on Wednesday to provide for
reservation in job promotions to SCs/STs has been put off with most political
parties today favouring a legally-sustainable legislation in the backdrop of the
Supreme Court striking down such a measure.

At an all-party meeting convened by him to evolve a consensus on the
issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government is in favour of
bringing an amendment in this regard and would bring an amended Bill soon after
legally examining all aspects.

“The government is exploring the possible solution of the current situation,”
he said at the meeting where Samajwadi Party was the only one to oppose the
proposal.

Leader of many parties, including those of the main opposition BJP,
suggested that the government should not rush into such a decision and bring the
Constitutional amendment Bill only after carefully considering all pros and
cons.

After the three-hour long meeting, Minister of State in PMO V Narayanasamy
said “after hearing the views of all political parties, the Prime Minister
concluded that government and Congress are in favour of reservation in
promotions of SCs/STs…The same provision by some states has been struck down
by courts…Such an amendment has to be legally sustainable.”

He said
“government will bring such an amendment which is legally sustainable.
Amendments will come within a short time. We are working on it.”

Narayanasamy
had announced in the Rajya Sabha on August 9 that the government will bring an
amendment Bill in this regard on August 22.