Reserved category candidates barred from open seats in Maharashtra
The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved a policy that candidates from reserved categories, who avail concessions in competitive examinations such as age relaxation and educational qualification, will not be eligible to claim appointment against open category posts.
The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, a statement issued by the General Administration Department said.
However, the Congress alleged that the move shows the "hidden agenda to dilute reservation", and claimed that the decision was part of a systematic attempt to weaken reservation through indirect means.
The Government said the policy would bring greater clarity regarding the selection of candidates from reserved categories on merit in the open category and ensure more transparency and consistency in the implementation of reservation.
Under the policy, reserved category candidates who have not availed any concession at any stage of the recruitment process in terms of age, educational qualification, experience or number of attempts allowed in examinations — excluding examination fee concessions — will be eligible for selection in the open category on the basis of merit.
However, candidates from reserved categories who have availed any relaxation provided by the Government in age, educational qualification, experience or number of examination attempts will continue to be counted against their respective reserved category quotas.
Such candidates will not be entitled to claim appointment against open category posts, it said.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Nitin Raut attacked the Government on Friday over its decision, calling it a direct assault on the constitutional rights of backward communities.
Raut, a former chairman of the AICC Scheduled Caste (SC) department, in a press release, alleged that the Government was betraying meritorious Bahujan students under the guise of equality.
"The Constitution clearly states that if a candidate from a reserved category secures marks equivalent to open category candidates on merit, he or she has every right to be selected under the open category. Denying that right merely because they availed technical concessions like age relaxation or fee benefits is nothing short of insulting their talent and hard work," the former state minister said.
Raut alleged that there is a hidden agenda to dilute reservations and claimed the decision was part of a systematic attempt to weaken reservations through indirect means.
Students from backward communities often rise through adverse social and economic conditions, and should not be punished for using constitutionally sanctioned concessions, he said.
"Merit cannot be monopolised by any particular class. Reserved category students work equally hard, often under far more difficult circumstances. Excluding them from open category competition despite their performance is a grave injustice," he said.
The Congress leader further pointed out that the Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the principle that meritorious reserved category candidates are entitled to open category seats. "This decision is not only anti-Constitutional, but also appears to undermine judicial precedents," he remarked.
Targeting the Mahayuti Government, Raut alleged that it was attempting to appease a particular ideological section at the cost of backward communities.
"At a time when unemployment is already at alarming levels, the Government is now placing additional barriers before deserving students. Instead of creating opportunities, it is busy curtailing existing rights," he said.
"This Government wants backward class students to stop competing with open category candidates on merit. Their policy clearly suggests that Bahujan youth should remain confined within reservation limits and never challenge the mainstream competition," he alleged.
