Haryana Private Sector Job Reservation: Constitutional Implications and Drawbacks

PWOnlyIAS November 18, 2023 06:16 1439 0

Context: The High Court of Punjab and Haryana has scrapped the policy of Haryana government that provided 75 percent job reservation in private sector jobs to the residents of the state.

Haryana Private Sector Job Reservation: Constitutional Implications and Drawbacks

Job Reservation Controversy in Haryana: High Court Scraps State’s Employment Act

Violation: The court completely scrapped the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020 as it violated Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution.
Petitioners: Several industrial associations had moved in court against the law, stating that the state did not have legislative competence under Article 35 for enacting this law.
Manifesto Promise: Providing 75 percent Job reservation in private sector for state-domiciled candidates was one of the electoral promises of the JJP, which is part of the ruling alliance in the state.

Key Provisions of Haryana’s Job Reservation Act for Local Candidates in Private Sector

Application: The law applied to private sector companies, societies, trusts, limited liability partnership firms, partnership firms, and any person employing 10 or more persons on salary, wages, or other remuneration for manufacturing, carrying on business, or providing any service in Haryana.

Job Reservation

Time Duration: The law would be applicable for a period of 10 years.
Salary Ceiling: The law will apply for local candidates for all jobs with a salary below Rs 50,000 per month.
Exemption: Private sector entities could claim exemption if candidates of desired skill are not available in the state.
Penalties: Failure to implement the act will attract a fine between Rs 50,000 and two lakh rupees, with an additional penalty of Rs 1,000 for each day till the violation continues.

Framework and Evolution of Reservation in Public Employment in India

Public Employment: Reservation in public employment was confined to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes but got extended to Other Backward Classes as well on the basis of the recommendations of the Mandal Commission.
- The Mandal Commission recommended providing 27% reservation to Other Backward Classes in central services and public sector undertakings, over and above the existing reservation.
Constitutional Provisions: Reservation is not a fundamental right. Even though the constitution mandates non-discrimination in public employment, the state can provide for advancement of certain sections of the society through reservation in education or employment.
- However, this reservation may be on the basis of domicile (residence), or backwardness.
- The Parliament has the power to make a law regarding employment to an office under the State providing requirements such as residence within that state (under Article 16(3)).
- The State may make provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward class of citizens or Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (under Article 15(4)).
- The State can make provisions for reserving posts for any backward classes of citizens who are not adequately represented in the services of the State (under Article 16(4)).

Implications and Challenges: Job Reservation in Private Sector in India

Violation of Supreme Court guidelines: The law of providing 75% job reservation may violate the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court, which has said that domicile cannot be the sole criteria for job reservation.
Financial Efficacy: Efficacy of private establishments could be affected if there are constraints in making appointments from outside state.
Fundamental Rights Violation: The job reservation in private institutions may violate their right to carry on an occupation or business.
Shifting of Business: Business and private sector institutions would be forced to relocate to another jurisdiction due to such laws.
Salary Caps: In order to overcome the provisions of the law, private companies may resort to putting a cap on employee salaries.
Promote Regionalism: Job Reservations in the private sector may further increase regionalist tendencies among citizens and reduce nationalism.

Landmark Judicial Decisions: Shaping the Landscape of Job Reservation in India

Indira Sawhney Case (1992)
- In this case, the apex court validated the constitutionality of the 27% reservation but put a ceiling of 50% in reservation in public employment.
- The court also suggested that advanced sections among the OBCs (the creamy layer) should be excluded from the list of beneficiaries of reservation.
M Nagraj Case (2006)
- The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of 77th Amendment, which allowed the state to make provisions for reserving posts for any backward classes of citizens who are not adequately represented in the services of the State.
- The court added that the creamy layer among Scheduled castes and tribes is to be excluded from the reservation.
Janhit Abhiyan (EWS) Case (2022)
- The Supreme Court has upheld the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment which provides 10% reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
- The court added that the EWS quota does not violate 50% ceiling imposed on reservation as the quota is within the non-reserved category.

State-wise Initiatives: Private Sector Job Reservation Across India

State	Measures
Andhra Pradesh	75% Job reservation in the private sector for locals in industry/factories (including PPP mode).
Karnataka	100% Job reservation for locals in blue-collar jobs. This is still under consideration.
Maharashtra	The state government is planning to introduce a legislation that would make it mandatory for the private sector in the state to reserve 80% jobs to locals.
Madhya Pradesh	The Previous government was mulling to bring in a law that provided 70% jobs to locals from the state.

Must Read
NCERT Notes For UPSC	UPSC Daily Current Affairs
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UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers	UPSC Test Series 2024

Job Reservation FAQs

The High Court of Punjab and Haryana has scrapped the policy of Haryana government that provided 75 percent reservation in private sector jobs to the residents of the state.

The court completely scrapped the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020 as it violated Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution.

The law applied to private sector companies, societies, trusts, limited liability partnership firms, partnership firms, and any person employing 10 or more persons on salary, wages, or other remuneration for manufacturing, carrying on business, or providing any service in Haryana.

Failure to implement the act would have attracted a fine between Rs 50,000 and two lakh rupees, with an additional penalty of Rs 1,000 for each day till the violation continues.

Reservation in public employment was confined to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes but was extended to Other Backward Classes as well on the basis of the recommendations of the Mandal Commission. The Mandal Commission recommended providing 27% reservation to Other Backward Classes in central services and public sector undertakings, over and above the existing reservation.

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Haryana Private Sector Job Reservation: Constitutional Implications and Drawbacks

Job Reservation Controversy in Haryana: High Court Scraps State’s Employment Act

Key Provisions of Haryana’s Job Reservation Act for Local Candidates in Private Sector

Framework and Evolution of Reservation in Public Employment in India

Implications and Challenges: Job Reservation in Private Sector in India

Landmark Judicial Decisions: Shaping the Landscape of Job Reservation in India

State-wise Initiatives: Private Sector Job Reservation Across India

Job Reservation FAQs

Which law of the Haryana Government was quashed by the Supreme Court?

Why did the High Court Scrap the Law?

To whom does the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020 apply?

What were the Penalties for failure to implement Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020?

What is the Current Status of Reservation in Public Employment?

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