The Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) New Delhi has issued the comprehensive F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions) on the Reservation Policy for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes as follows :
Question 1. What is the policy of the Government on reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs?
ANSWER : Reservation to the SCs, STs and OBCs in case of direct recruitment on all the India basis by open competition is given at the rate of 15% 7.5% and 27% respectively. In case of direct recruitment on all India basis otherwise than by open competition, reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs is 16.66% 7.5% and 25.84% respectively. In case of direct recruitment to Group C and D posts which normally attract candidates from a locality or a region, percentage of reservation for SCs/STs is generally fixed in proportion to the population of SCs and STs in the respective States/UTs. For OBCs it is fixed keeping in view the proportion of their population in the concerned State/UT and the fact that total reservation for SCs/STs/OBC is remains within the limit for 50% and reservation for OBCs remains within the limit of 27%.
Reservation in promotion by non-selection method is available to SCs and the STs in all groups of services viz. A, B, C and D at the rate of 15% and 7.5% respectively. In case of promotion by selection method reservation is available upto the lowest rung of Group ‘A’ at the same rates. In promotion by selection method reservation is available upto the lowest rung of Group ‘A’ at the same rates. In promotion by selection of posts within Group ‘A’ which carry an ultimate salary of Rs.18,300/- or less (in pre-revised scale) there is no reservation, but the Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe Officers who are senior enough in the Zone of consideration for promotion so as to be within the number of vacancies for which the select list is to be drawn up, would be included in that list provided they are not considered unfit for promotion.
QUESTION 2: What are the key provisions of Reservation Policy?
ANSWER : Following are the key provisions of Policy of Reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs:
(i) SCs/STs get reservation in all groups of posts under the Government in case of direct recruitment and in case of promotions made by non-selection method. In case of promotions made by selection, reservation is available to them when promotions are made in Group B,C,D posts and from Group B to the lowest rung in Group ‘A’ Posts.
(ii) SC/ST/OBC candidates appointed by direct recruitment and SC/ST candidates also promoted on their own merit are adjusted against unreserved posts.
(iii) In Promotion by selection to posts within Group ‘A’ which carry an ultimate salary of Rs.18,300/- or less (pre-revised) there is no reservation, but the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe officers who are senior enough in the zone of consideration of promotion so as to be within the number of vacancies for which the select list is to be drawn up, would be included in that list provided they are not considered unfit for promotion.
(iv) There is a general ban on de-reservation of posts in case of direct recruitment.
(v) In case of direct recruitment various relaxations, like relaxations in age limit by 5 years exemption from payment of examination / application fees: relaxation in qualification of experience at the discretion of UPSC/Competent authority: relaxation in standard of suitability, etc, are available to members of SCs and STs.
(vi) In case of direct recruitment. OBCs get relaxation of 3 years in upper age limit, relaxation in standards of suitability etc.
(vii) In case of promotion, zone of consideration is extended upto five times the number of vacancies in case suitable candidates are not available within normal zone of consideration: minimum qualifying marks/standards of evaluation are relaxable: upper age limit is relaxable by five years where upper age limit for promotion is prescribed not more than 50 years.
(viii) There is a provision of appointment of liaison officers in all Ministries / Departments to ensure proper implementation of reservation policy.
QUESTION 3 : What are the relaxations available to SCs/STs?
ANSWER : The relaxations that are available for the SCs and STs in direct recruitment are as follows:
(a) Relaxation in the upper age limit by five years
(b) Exemption from payment of examination / application fees
(c). Where interview is a part of the recruitment process, SC/ST candidates should be interviewed separately
(d) Qualification regarding experience can be relaxed in respect of SC/ST candidates at the discretion of UPSC/Competent Authority:
(e) Standards of suitability can be relaxed etc.
The relaxations that are available for the SCs/STs in promotions are as follows :
a. The zone of consideration is extended to five times the number of vacancies in case suitable SC/ST candidates are not available within the normal zone of consideration:
b. Minimum qualifying marks / standards of evaluation are relaxable;
c. Upper age limit relaxable by five years where upper age limit for promotion is prescribed not exceeding fifty years etc.
QUESTION 4 : What are the relaxations available to OBCs?
ANSWER : Relaxations available to OBCs in direct recruitment are as follows:
i) Relaxation in the upper age limit by 3 years
ii) Qualification regarding experience can be relaxed at the discretion of competent authority.
iii) Standards of suitability can be relaxed etc.
QUESTION 5 : Who is an own merit candidate?
ANSWER : A candidate belonging to SC/ST/OBC who is selected on the same standards as applied to general category candidates and who appears in the general merit list is treated as own merit candidate. Such candidate is adjusted against unreserved point of the reservation roster. Department of Personnel and Training O.M. No.36011/1/98-Estt.(Res) dated 1.7.1998 clarified that only such SC/ST/OBC candidates who are selected on the same standards as applied to general candidates shall not be adjusted against reserved vacancies. In other words, when a relaxed standard is applied in selecting on SC/ST/OBC candidate, for example in the age limit, experience qualification, permitted number of changes in written examination, extended zone of consideration larger than what is provided for general category candidates, etc., the SC/ST/OBC candidates are to be counted against reserved vacancies. Such candidates would be deemed to the unavailable for consideration against unreserved vacancies.[/expand
QUESTION 6: What is the difference between post based reservation and vacancy based reservation?
ANSWER : Reservation to SCs, STs and OBCs prior to 2.6.1997 was implemented through vacancy based rosters in which case calculation of reserved vacancies depended on the total number of vacancies to be filled. The Supreme Court in the case of R.K. Sabharwal held that reservation in a cadre should be calculated on the basis of total number of posts in the cadre and not the vacancies. It means that if reservation for SCs is 15% and cadre strength in a grade is 100, 15 posts will be reserved for SCs i.e. at any point of time 15 posts in this cadre should be held by SCs appointed by reservation. Whenever their representation comes down, it would be completed.
QUESTION 7: What is Backlog vacancy and why are so many backlog vacancies in services ?
ANSWER : Backlog Reserved Vacancies of a category are those vacancies which were earmarked reserved for that category in and earlier recruitment year but remained unfilled in the previous recruitment attempt on account of non-availability of suitable candidates belonging to that category and are still lying unfilled.
As per instructions issued by the D.O.P&T, if sufficient number of suitable SCs, STs and OBC candidates do not become available to fill up the vacancies reserved for them in the first attempt of recruitment, a second attempt is made for recruiting suitable candidates belonging to the concerned category in the same recruitment year or as early as possible before the next recruitment year so that backlog reserved vacancies are not created. However, even after making such efforts the reserved vacancies are not filled up and backlog vacancies are created which are carried forward to the subsequent recruitment year, in which concerted efforts are make to fill up the backlog reserved vacancies as soon as possible.
It may be observed that reason of creation of backlog reserved vacancy is non-availability of reserved category candidates for some posts.
(Courtesy: gconnect.in)
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