Govt to SC: Told all departments to ensure SC, ST, OBC quota in temporary jobs

The Centre pointed out to a bench of Justices Sanjeev Khanna and S V N Bhatti that in the Office Memorandum dated September 24, 1968, “reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has been provided in all temporary appointments, except the appointments which are to last for less than 45 days”. This was reiterated “in respect of appointments to central government posts and services” in the Office Memorandum dated May 15, 2018, it said.

The Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of SCs and STs, however, observed that the instructions contained in the Office Memorandums “are not followed in letter and spirit and… directed that these instructions may be recirculated to all Government Departments”, the Centre said.

In view of this, the government said that it issued yet another Office Memorandum on November 21, 2022, requesting all ministries and departments to ensure that reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs is ensured in all temporary appointments, which are to last for 45 days or more.

It said that a mechanism has been put in place to deal with cases of failure to follow or abide by the November 21 Office Memorandum.