Key provisions of Policy of Reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs:
1) SCs/STs get reservation in all groups of posts under the Government in case of direct recruitment and in case of promotions made by non-selection method. In case of promotions made by selection, reservation is available to them when promotions are made in Group B, C, D posts and from Group B to the lowest rung in Group ‘A’ posts.
2) SC/ST/OBC candidates appointed by direct recruitment and SC/ST candidates also promoted on their own merit are adjusted against reserved posts.
3) In promotion by selection to posts within Group ‘A’ which carry an ultimate salary of Rs.18,300.00 or less (pre-revised), there is no reservation, but the Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe officers who are senior enough in the zone of consideration for promotion so as to be within the number of vacancies for which the select list is to be drawn up, would be included in that list provided they are not considered unfit for promotion.
4) There is general ban on de-reservation of posts in case of direct recruitment.
5) In case of direct recruitment various relaxations, like relaxations in age limit by 5 years; exemption from payment of examination / application fees; relaxation in qualification of experience at the discretion of UPSC/competent authority; relaxation in standard of suitability, etc. Are available to members of SCs and STs.
6) In case of promotion, zone of consideration is extended up-to five times the number of vacancies in case suitable candidates are not available within normal zone of consideration; minimum qualifying marks / standards of evaluation are relaxable; upper age limit is relaxable by five years where upper age limit for promotion is prescribed not more than 50 years.
7) There is a provision of appointment of liaison officers in all Ministries / Departments to ensure proper implementation of reservation policy.
Own merit candidate
A candidate belonging to SC/ST/OBC who is selected on the same standard as applied to general category candidates and who appears in the general merit list is treated as own merit candidate. Such candidate is adjusted against unreserved point of the reservation roster. Department of Personnel and Training O.M. No. 36011/1/98-Estt.(Res.) dated 1-7-1998 clarifies that only such SC/ST/OBC candidates who are selected on the same standard as applied to general candidates shall not be adjusted against reserved vacancies. In other words, when a relaxed standard is applied in selecting an SC/ST/OBC candidate, for example in the age limit, experience qualification, permitted number of chances in written examination, extended zone of consideration larger than what is provided for general category candidates, etc., the SC/ST/OBC candidates are to be counted against reserved vacancies. Such candidates would be deemed to be unavailable for consideration against unreserved vacancies.
Guidelines in case of migration of a reserved category person from one State to another State
When a person migrates from one portion of the State in respect of which his community is Scheduled to another part of the same State in respect of which his community is not scheduled, he will continue to be a member of the Scheduled Caste or the Scheduled Tribe or the Backward Class, as the case may be in relation to that State.
When a person who is a member of one State moves to another, he can claim to belong to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe only in relation to the State to which he originally belonged and not in respect of the State to which he has migrated.
Objective behind the issuance of caste certificates to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
The main objective of issuance of caste certificate is to facilitate access of bonafide candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Class to the reserved posts and services under the State and other facilities provided by the State to them.
Guidelines in regard to scrutiny and verification of caste certificates in Government Service
The Government of India has issued instructions regarding scrutiny and verification of the caste certificates of the candidates at the time of initial appointment and at every important upturn of employee’s career. This Department re-iterated the instructions vide O.M. No.36011/3/2005-Estt. (Res.) dated 9th September 2005.