Draft UGC Guidelines Over Dereservation Policy

January 29, 2024

Context:

The policy to dereservation any reserved faculty positions in UGC’s draft guidelines has been scrapped as clarified by the Education Ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC).

UGC Draft Guidelines Over Dereservation

The ‘Final Draft Guidelines for Implementation of the Reservation Policy of the Government of India in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) was released for public feedback by January 28.
The draft guidelines on implementing the reservation policy in higher education institutions
This draft is prepared by a four-member committee headed by the director of the Institute of Public Administration, Dr H S Rana.
De-reservation in case of Promotion: In case of promotion, if sufficient number of SC/ST candidates fit for promotion against reserved vacancies are not available, such vacancies may be de-reserved and filled by the candidates of other communities.
- The power to accord approval to dereservation of the reserved vacancies in such cases is delegated to the administrative Ministries and Departments

The Draft Guidelines

Chapter on dereservation of unfilled quota: It said that in exceptional circumstances unfilled posts meant for teachers, officers, and employees of a university from the ST/SC and OBC category can be filled by General candidates, provided the university gives adequate justification for it.
The proposal: It will consist of information such as the designation, pay scale, name of the service, responsibilities, required qualifications, efforts made to fill the post, and why it cannot be allowed to remain vacant.
- Group A and B posts: Proposals for de-reservation should be submitted to the Education Ministry
- Group C and D posts: Proposal should be forwarded to the Executive Council (the top decision making body) of the university for special permission.

Current Recruitment Policy

As per the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act, 2019 reservation in CEIs is provided for all posts in direct recruitment in the teacher’s cadre
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) permits de-reservation in exceptional circumstances exclusively for Group A posts but this provision has not been put into effect in universities.
Unfilled quota positions undergo re-advertisement, and universities organise special recruitment drives until suitable candidates are identified.

Reservation in Government Jobs

Article 15(4): It enables the State to make special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Accordingly, provision for reservation in jobs and educational institutions has been made.
- Article 15(6): Introduced by the 103rd Constitutional Amendment providing for 10% reservations to the EWS sections in regards to jobs and educational institutions.
Article 16: The right of equal opportunity in the matters of public employment.
- Article 16(4): It specifies for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State.
- Article 16 (4A): It specifies provision for reservation in matters of promotion, with consequential seniority, in favour of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes inserted by the 85th Constitutional amendment Act
- Article 16(6): Introduced by the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act to provide Reservation to Economically weaker sections

Also Read: QS World University Rankings 2024

News Source: The Indian Express

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