Union Minister Jitendra Singh writes letter to UPSC Chairperson citing PM’s directives
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday asked the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to cancel its advertisements for lateral entry into top posts in central ministries, amid backlash from the opposition and NDA allies. Jitendra Singh wrote a letter to UPSC Chairperson Preeti Sudan citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directives.
In his letter, Singh said that lateral entry was necessary to align with the principles of equity and social justice enshrined in the Constitution, especially with regard to provision of reservations.
Singh said that for PM Modi, reservations in public employment was “a cornerstone of our social justice framework aimed at addressing historical injustices and promoting inclusivity”.
Also read: Home Minister Amit Shah granted Indian citizenship to 188 Pakistani Hindus
“Since these positions have been treated as specialised and designated as single-cadre posts, there has been no provision for reservation in these appointments,” the letter said.
What the opposition said?
The Congress, which had strongly criticised the ad as an “attack on Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis”, was swift to react. “A letter from a Union Minister working under a non-biological Prime Minister to a constitutional authority WITHOUT a date. What pathetic governance this is,” tweeted Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
Last week, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) sought 45 joint secretaries, directors and assistant secretaries in the largest tranche of lateral entry into the bureaucracy. The aim was to appoint specialists, especially from the private sector, in central government services.
The UPSC announcement has caused a political stir, with at least two NDA partners – the Janata Dal (United) and Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) – joining the opposition in protesting the move.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was the first to attack the BJP government and criticise it for its lack of reservations over lateral recruitment.
“Lateral entry is an attack on Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis. The BJP’s distorted version of Ram Rajya seeks to destroy the Constitution and snatch reservations from Bahujans,” Gandhi had tweeted.
What is lateral entry?
Lateral entry into bureaucracy refers to the recruitment of people from outside the traditional civil service, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), to fill middle and senior positions in government departments.
