Notes

Govt. cites ‘social justice’ to cancel lateral entry ad, 6 yrs ago it structured scheme to avoid reservation

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Last Updated23/08/2024

withdraw the advertisement for “lateral entry” to 45 posts, citing “the constitutional mandate towards social justice” for “rightful representation”.

The Union government's initiative to introduce lateral entry into India's civil services has sparked significant debate, particularly concerning the implications for social justice and the representation of marginalized communities.
The recent directive by Union Minister Jitendra Singh to withdraw the advertisement for 45 lateral entry posts underscores the ongoing tension between administrative reforms and constitutional mandates for social equity.

Lateral entry into civil services, introduced in 2018, was aimed at bringing in domain experts from the private sector and academia to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of government departments.
The policy allowed for the appointment of professionals at senior positions such as Joint Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries, bypassing the traditional route of recruitment through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

From its inception, the lateral entry policy has faced scrutiny over its approach to reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Official records reveal that while formulating the policy, the government relied on a 1978 Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) instruction, which exempted deputation or transfer postings from mandatory reservations. This was used to justify the exclusion of reservations in lateral entry appointments.
However, a crucial aspect of the 1978 instruction was overlooked: when the number of posts filled through deputation is substantial, efforts should be made to ensure fair representation of SCs and STs.

The omission of reservations in the lateral entry scheme has drawn objections from various political parties, including key NDA allies like JD(U) and LJP (Ram Vilas). These parties, along with the Opposition, argue that the policy undermines the rightful representation of marginalized communities in government services.
In response to these concerns, Minister Jitendra Singh directed the UPSC Chairperson to withdraw the advertisement for lateral entry, emphasizing the need to uphold social justice.