Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met Solicitor General Tushar Mehta during his stay in Delhi on Wednesday in view of the decision of the Supreme Court regarding reservation in local bodies. Chief Minister In his meeting with the Solicitor General Chouhan discussed the reservation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies. The aspects related to this issue were discussed in detail. Chief Minister Chouhan also met Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraja.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that the state government is fully committed for the social, economic and political empowerment of the Other Backward Classes. The decision of the Supreme Court is a decision affecting representation in local bodies. He said that the state government would file a amendment petition in the Honorable Supreme Court. Chief Minister Chouhan has said that it is the priority of the government to present its views in the court and protect the interests of the backward classes.
Home Minister Narottam Mishra and Urban Development and Housing Minister Bhupendra Singh were also present on this occasion.
But the similar benefit is not available in compulsory retirement.
Under the provisions relating to pre-mature retirement in the Fundamental Rules (FR) and the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, the appropriate authority has the absolute right to retire a Government servant under FR 56(j), FR 56(l) or Rule 48 (1)(b) of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 as the case may be, if it is necessary to do so in public interest.
However, the 75 officials who put in their papers and decided to opt for VRS are those who have been denied promotion or sent on leave or circumstances have been created to force them to opt for retirement.
In July last year, nine officials including member (Rolling Stock and Traction) Rahul Jain put in their papers, followed by six in August, four in September, seven in October, nine in November, six in December. In 2022 , 11 officials in January opted for VRS, seven in February, eight in March, five in April and three this month.
Another Member of the Railway Board Ravindra Gupta also opted for VRS last month while general manager of Rail Wheel Factory A K Dubey was “advised” to proceed on VRS at earliest failing which the railways could invoke the DoPT dismissal rule. “There were strong vigilance recommendations against Dubey,” confirmed a railway official.