New Delhi: The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Minister Jitendra Singh has instructed the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to cancel the recent advertisement for lateral entry positions in the central government. This decision follows directives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In his letter, Singh noted the historical context of lateral entry, mentioning, "Under earlier governments, posts as important as that of the Secretary in various ministries, leadership of UIDAI, etc., have been given to lateral entrants without following any process of reservations." He emphasised that while earlier lateral entries were often ad-hoc and potentially influenced by favouritism, the current administration has aimed to establish a more transparent and institutionalised process.
The Minister further stated, "The Prime Minister is of the firm belief that the process of lateral entry must be aligned with the principles of equity and social justice enshrined in our Constitution, particularly concerning the provisions of reservation." Singh argued that the absence of reservation provisions in these specialised roles requires review to ensure alignment with the constitutional mandate for social justice.
This decision follows criticism from opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, who alleged that the lateral entry system undermines the reservation rights of Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis. Gandhi and other leaders such as Akhilesh Yadav, MK Stalin, and Sitaram Yechury have expressed concerns that the move threatens the Constitution's protective measures for these communities.
In response, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw defended the policy, clarifying that the lateral entry positions are temporary and do not affect the existing reservation system for regular civil service roles. He described the opposition's criticism as "false and baseless" and affirmed that the lateral entry process under the current administration is more systematic and transparent than in previous governments.
The UPSC’s recent notification for recruiting Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries through lateral entry had triggered significant debate. The government's decision to withdraw the advertisement aims to address these concerns and reaffirm its commitment to social justice and equitable representation in government services. /BI
Image of the letter has been attached for reference:
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