Lateral entry in IAS by circumventing reservation; contract and deputation appointment in 45 posts in bureaucracy

NEW DELHI: Controversy is simmering over the move at the Centre to make lateral entry appointments in top civil service posts including IAS, without reservation.

UPSC has invited applications for 10 Joint Secretaries and 35 Director and Deputy Secretary posts in 24 Ministries. The UPSC advertisement states that all 45 posts are contract/deputation appointments. Appointments will be made before September 17. These are the posts where civil servants are appointed.

The central government claims that lateral entry is to provide opportunities to those who have qualifications, work experience and skills. Employees of State Government, Public Sector Undertakings, Universities, Research Institutes and Private Sector Employees can apply. 15 years of experience is needed for the post of Joint Secretary, Age limit 40-55. Persons with disabilities can also apply.

How reservation is being bypassed

If 45 vacancies are treated as a single group then reservation will be required. However, as each vacancy in the Ministry is advertised separately, these are treated as single-post vacancies. SC, ST and OBC reservations can be bypassed like this.

To appoint RSS people: Rahul

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that this is Modi's guarantee to privatize IAS and end reservation. "Modi government is subverting the constitution and traditional recruitment process of UPSC. This is to appoint RSS people in high posts. The underprivileged are not represented in all the country’s top posts, including the top bureaucracy. Instead of improving it, they are being pushed further away from the top posts through lateral entry. This is a robbery of the rights of talented youth preparing for UPSC and an attack on the concept of social justice including reservation for the underprivileged."

Opposition with huge protest

'INDIA' alliance leaders protested against the move of non-compliance of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBC reservations in high-level appointments. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that it was a planned move by the BJP to suppress the backward class. Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi), Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) and Mayawati (BSP) also made criticisms.

Niti Aayog recommendation

In 2017, NITI Aayog and Sectoral Group of Secretaries had recommended lateral entry in higher posts. The first advertisement was for Joint Secretary posts in 2018. Posts of the rank of Director and Deputy Secretary were opened later. At present there are 57 lateral entry officers in the ministries.