Various organizations across the country have called for a 'Bharat Bandh' today (August 21) against the Supreme Court's decision on the creamy layer in Scheduled Caste and Tribe reservation. Many parties including BSP are supporting this bandh.
In such a situation, the question is why Bharat Bandh has been called. Which is the decision of the Supreme Court, which the Dalit organizations are opposing? What are the demands of Dalit organizations? Why is lateral entry in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) under question? What will remain open and what will remain closed during Bharat Bandh?
What is the Supreme Court's decision?
While giving the decision on the creamy layer in the SC-ST reservation, the Supreme Court had said, "All SC and ST castes and tribes are not the same class. Some castes may be more backward. For example - those who do the work of cleaning sewers and weavers. Both these castes come under SC, but the people of this caste are more backward than others. For the upliftment of these people, state governments can sub-classify SC-ST reservations and set a separate quota. Doing so is not against Article 341 of the Constitution.''
Along with the decision to set quota within quota, the Supreme Court also gave necessary instructions to the states. It said that state governments cannot make this decision arbitrarily. Two conditions will also apply to this.
What are the two conditions?
A 100% quota cannot be given to any one caste within SC.
Before deciding the quota of any caste included in SC, there should be solid data on its share.
Let us tell you that the Supreme Court gave this decision while hearing the petitions in which it was said that only a few castes included in SC have the benefit of reservation. Due to this many castes have been left behind. There should be a quota within the quota to bring them into the mainstream. This argument was being hampered by the 2004 decision, which said that Scheduled Castes can be classified.
Which parties are supporting Bharat Bandh?
Dalit organizations across the country have announced Bharat Bandh on the 21st of August. They are also getting the support of Bahujan Samajwadi Party supremo, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, and Bharat Adivasi Party Mohan Lathroat. Along with this, leaders of some parties including Congress are also in support.
In which states are searches being done about Bharat Bandh?
Search is being done about Bharat Bandh across the country including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.
BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra wrote on social media platform X,
"We all know that BSP national president sister Mayawati has strongly opposed the Supreme Court's decision of sub-classification. Behenji's guidelines appeal to all the small and big workers of BSP to join the Bharat Bandh on 21st August 2024 under the blue flag and elephant symbol of BSP and make the public aware of the sub-classification, especially to Dalits, exploited, deprived, minority and justice-loving people.''
He also appealed that all BSP workers should join the Bharat Bandh in large numbers in a disciplined and constitutional manner.
What are the demands of those who call for Bharat Bandh?
The Dalit organizations calling for Bharat Bandh have demanded that the Supreme Court should withdraw or reconsider the decision of quota in quota.
What will remain closed during Bharat Bandh?
So far no state government has officially issued guidelines regarding Bharat Bandh. The police administration has been put on alert. Officials are taking extensive steps to ensure the safety of the public during the protest.
Public transport services may be affected during Bharat Bandh.
Private offices may be closed in some places.
These services will continue
Emergency services like hospitals and ambulances will remain operational during the Bharat Bandh on August 21. No order has come from the government so far regarding keeping bank offices and government offices closed. Therefore, it is believed that banks and government offices will also open on Wednesday.
What is being searched about Bharat Bandh?
People in the country are searching with different keywords regarding Bharat Bandh. Such as why will Bharat Bandh remain closed tomorrow, Bharat Bandh, Bharat Bandh tomorrow, is Bharat Bandh tomorrow or not, etc.
Why is there a ruckus over lateral entry?
Lateral entry in UPSC means direct recruitment of people from the private sector to big posts in the government. The objective is - that experts are involved in the administration and competition remains. Under lateral entry, joint secretaries, directors, or deputy secretaries are recruited in the government. The central government issued vacancies for the recruitment of 45 officers on August 17.
Will reservation not be applicable in lateral entry?
Regarding this, BJP IT Cell in-charge Amit Malviya says that the same reservation rules will apply in the lateral vacancy issued by the commission, which are applicable in any other UPSC examination.
At the same time, the Department of Personnel and Training of the Government of India, in response to an RTI, said that reservation is applicable in government jobs through 13 roster points.
What is the roster system?
In this, every fourth post in a government job should be reserved for OBC, every 7th post for SC, every 14th post for ST, and every 10th post for EWS. However, reservation does not apply for recruitment to less than three posts.
Let us tell you that the government, taking advantage of the technical reasons of the law, has issued advertisements for less than three posts from different departments. Therefore, reservation does not apply in this. However, today the government has canceled the lateral entry recruitment.
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