Union Minister Chirag Paswan Supports Government’s Request to UPSC Chairperson: ‘I Was in Touch with PM

Union Minister Chirag Paswan Supports Government’s Request to UPSC Chairperson: ‘I Was in Touch with PM

Union minister Chirag Paswan has welcomed the government’s decision to ask the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to cancel its recent advertisement for lateral entry appointments. Paswan, the head of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), (LJP) an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising concerns with the advertisement.

Paswan said he had personally conveyed to the Prime Minister the concerns the SC/ST and backward communities have over the lateral entry scheme. He told reporters he submitted relevant documents to the office of Modi and deliberated at length over the matter. Paswan insisted that the government should adhere to reservation rules in all its appointments.

The controversy had erupted over a UPSC advertisement last week which called for applications for 45 posts — 10 of joint secretaries and 35 of directors/deputy secretaries — through lateral entry on a contract basis. The Square Deal visualises roping in specialists in different fields, including the private sector, into government jobs. But these rules of lateral appointment are not related to the reservation quotas.

Also Read: Donald Trump Considers Elon Musk for Cabinet Role in Potential Second Term

The move, however, elicited charges from opposition leaders that this went against the very fabric of a caste-based reservation system. The government denied these charges and said that, in any case, the lateral entry scheme would not impact the availability of SC/ST candidates in any of the all-India services.