In a decision that can have a political fallout, the Samajwadi Party Government has approved a proposal to demote 64 engineers of Irrigation and State Water Resources Department who were given consequential seniority in promotion under reservation during the Mayawati regime. The decision was approved by the State Cabinet that met here on Tuesday.
According to a Government spokesperson, the demotion of 64 engineers was proposed in view of the apex court order of April 27, 2012. The court had declared the consequential seniority in promotion in view of reservation as ultra vires. On the basis of Indira Sahni case, the court said that reservation should not play any role on promotion. It said that promotion given to officials by bringing changes in Act stand quashed.
On this basis of this order, the Appointment Department set up a committee which on March 30, 2015 identified 64 engineers who were promoted between November 15, 1997 and April 28, 2012 on the basis of reservation.
“The Cabinet has approved demotion of these officers,” the spokesman said. This order is bound to have a political repercussion as BSP president Mayawati has in the Rajya Sabha advocated consequential seniority in promotion on the basis of reservation.
Sarvjan Hitay Sanrakshan Samiti, that fought against Mayawati’s order has hailed Government’s decision. “Although the UP Government took its time to take a final decision it is a welcome move and should be implemented in all the departments,” Samiti Shailendra convener Dubey said.
The Government has also decided to provide 12 per cent interest subsidy for five years to the beneficiaries of the Kamdhenu Dairy schemes. The subsidy will be of Rs32.82 lakh. Under mini-Kamdhenu scheme, the Government will provide additional subsidy of Rs13.66 lakh.
As per Government estimate, beneficiaries would get Rs211 lakh for big Kamdhenu scheme followed by Rs113.86 lakhs for the mini-scheme. Besides the interest subsidy, the Government will also provide a financial assistance of Rs5 lakh for big, Rs2.5 lakh for mini and Rs1.25 lakh for the micro units to set up cow-based dairies.
In another decision, the UP Government has decided to promote four closed down corporation-owned sugar mills as integrated complex. The spokesman said that four sugar mills of Maholi, Budhwal. Chata and Nandganj would be handed over to the private investors on 30 years lease to develop it as integrated complex.
Under the integrated complex scheme, the investors will have to expand or set up new sugar mills with minimum crushing of 2500 TCD, set up captive power plant of co-generation of 10 megawatt and minimum production of 30 kilolitre of distillery along with setting up of other allied industries in the campus.
In another decision, the Government has approved setting up of secondary schools under PPP model in the newly constructed medical colleges. These quality secondary schools would be affiliated with CBSE. The Government will provide 2 acres of land free of cost for this purpose. These schools would have classes from standard VIth to XIIth.