REVERSE RESERVATION POLICY OF THE HARYANA GOVERNMENT

EXCERPTS FROM A MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED BY AIDWA TO THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF WOMEN

The Haryana Government has adopted a policy of reverse reservation in recruitment to teaching posts, which has led to a loss of employment for women and other backward sections, ironically in the name of so called reservation.

The Haryana Government has deliberately and unfairly misinterpreted 33% reservation for women to restrict and minimize women’s employment, in a sector where women earlier constituted more than 40% of the workforce.

The screening tests conducted by the Haryana Public Service Commission in Dec 2010, to fill 1317 teacher’s vacancies, were based on this faulty approach. In order to ensure that the 67:33 ratio for men to women appointees was maintained, the cut off marks for the women who appeared for the screening tests for lecturer’s posts were kept higher in both the general and the reserved categories. As a result, many deserving women candidates have been denied their right to employment in Haryana. The same exclusionary approach prevailed for the SC/ST, BC, ex servicemen, and physically challenged sections as well.

This policy of the Haryana Government has turned the concept of reservation on its head, and represents a gross violation of constitutional norms and procedures. It points to a serious infringement of the rights of deprived sections to be supported by the Government through affirmative action.

The Haryana Government initiated this strategy in 2005 when it issued an order reserving 33% of teaching posts for women, and 67% posts for men. This was strongly opposed by AIDWA and other teachers and employees organizations and the Government was forced to withdraw its move. Indeed, the NCW had also intervened to prevent such a misuse of reservation at that time.

However, in due course, the distorted policy was once again introduced in a clandestine manner, with candidates belonging to reserved categories being totally excluded from the higher merit category. Women, scheduled castes, backward class, ex-servicemen, physically challenged candidates are victims of this discrimination perpetrated by the Haryana Government. Such manipulation could be unraveled only through an RTI application, which showed that the Government had resorted to this measure, granting males 67% reservation.

Despite Court rulings to the contrary, the Hooda Government has gone ahead with widescale recruitments on the basis of this faulty reservation policy. A series of protests, and repeated representations to the Governor, Chief Minister, Education Minister and other related authorities have not borne fruit.

This serious transgression undercuts the fundamental concept of reservation, and goes against our constitutional norms. Indeed, it sets a wrong and dangerous precedent for the whole country. This illegal order should be revoked immediately, accountability be fixed for this anti women and anti constitutional measure, and appropriate action taken. The injustice meted out to the female candidates who have been deprived of their jobs must be redressed.

Courtesy: www.citucentre.org/