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Centre asks UPSC to cancel lateral entry recruitment notification 2024


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On a recent Tuesday, the Indian government made headlines when it reached out to Preeti Sudan, the chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), with a critical request. The Centre urged her to withdraw a notification regarding the lateral hiring of officials for various government positions. This notification was published just days earlier, on a Saturday, sparking widespread debate. UPSC has released notification to recruit candidates to various posts such as Joint Secretary in ministries and government organizations. In this notification, UPSC allowed candidates from private sector to apply for this recruitment whereas earlier only IAS were promoted to these posts.

Background of the Lateral Hiring Initiative

Lateral hiring involves bringing in experts from outside the traditional civil services, often from the private sector, to fill high-level positions in government. This idea isn’t new; it was first supported by the Congress-led government in 2005. The goal was to infuse fresh perspectives into the bureaucracy by including professionals with diverse experiences.

However, this approach has always been a contentious issue, especially regarding how these appointments align with the principles of equity and social justice enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

The Government’s Stance

In an official letter, Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State for Personnel, expressed concerns over the lateral hiring process. He emphasized that while the concept of lateral entry was originally supported by previous governments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a firm belief that any such process should be fair and transparent, ensuring equal opportunity for all. Singh highlighted that, in the past, key positions such as secretary roles in various ministries and leadership positions in organizations like UIDAI were often filled without a proper and transparent selection process.

Singh further alleged that under previous Congress governments, appointments were sometimes made through favoritism, with certain individuals being given influential roles without due process. He claimed that a group known as the National Advisory Council had significant influence over the Prime Minister’s Office, effectively creating a “super-bureaucracy” that operated outside the official channels.

The Importance of Reservation and Social Justice

For Prime Minister Modi and his government, the reservation system in public employment is a cornerstone of social justice. This system is designed to ensure that marginalized communities, including OBCs, SCs, and STs, are adequately represented in government institutions. Singh reiterated that the constitutional mandate for reservations must be respected, and any hiring process should reflect this commitment to social equity.

The Controversy and Political Debate

The UPSC’s recent advertisement invited applications for 45 positions in central government offices on a contractual basis for three years. This move has ignited a fierce political debate. The opposition parties, led by Congress, have accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to sidestep the reservation system by hiring laterally, which they argue could undermine the representation of marginalized communities in government roles.

The BJP, on the other hand, insists that their approach is transparent, merit-based, and still respects the principles of social justice. They argue that lateral hiring, when done properly, can bring much-needed expertise into the government without compromising on the constitutional rights of underrepresented communities.

What’s Next?

The request to withdraw the notification is a significant development, and it remains to be seen how the UPSC will respond. The controversy highlights the ongoing struggle between modernization and tradition in India’s governance. As the debate continues, the key question will be how to balance the need for expertise with the imperative of social justice in government hiring practices.

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