The Education Ministry has issued a directive to all Central Educational Institutions (CEIs) to adhere strictly to the provisions of the 2019 ACT when filling vacancies.
In an announcement made on Sunday, the Ministry of Education (MoE) in New Delhi provided clarity on the non-alteration of reserved positions as per the draft guidelines outlined by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The directive explicitly stated that no posts designated for reserved categories can undergo de-reservation. The Ministry instructed all Central Educational Institutions (CEIs) to adhere strictly to the guidelines specified in the 2019 Act while filling vacancies.
Emphasizing the significance of maintaining the stipulations of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act, 2019, the ministry underscored that reservation policies extend to all positions in the direct recruitment process within the Teacher’s cadre in Central Educational Institutions (CEIs). This assertion reinforces the commitment to upholding and implementing the established reservation framework for the equitable distribution of opportunities within the education sector.
In a recent statement, M Jagadeesh Kumar, the Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC), affirmed that there has been no de-reservation of positions allocated for reserved categories in Central Educational Institutions (CEIs) in the past, and this practice will continue in the future. Stressing the importance of higher education institutions, he urged them to make concerted efforts to fill all backlog positions in the reserved category.
A circular from the Department of Personnel and Training further clarified that any vacancy reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), or Other Backward Classes (OBCs) must be filled exclusively by a candidate from the respective category. The circular explicitly stated that a reserved vacancy could only be declared unreserved through a de-reservation process, allowing it to be filled as an unreserved vacancy.
The circular specified that, in “rare and exceptional cases,” when a Group A position cannot remain vacant due to public interest, the proposal for de-reservation in the case of Group C or D positions should be presented to the Executive Council of the University. Meanwhile, for Group A or B positions, the proposal should be submitted to the Ministry of Education, accompanied by comprehensive details, to obtain necessary approval, according to the draft guidelines. This underlines a careful consideration process for de-reservation, particularly in higher-ranking positions, ensuring a balanced approach to filling vacancies while adhering to established guidelines and regulations.