LUCKNOW Political ideology won’t serve as a ground for disqualifying anyone from holding government jobs in Uttar Pradesh, but those protesting for a change in the “established social system” through violence are barred from getting government employment, according to a new policy of the state government.
The guidelines seek to bring consistency to antecedent verification, clarify the grounds for disqualification and expedite recruitment while ensuring that political ideology alone is not used to deny candidates government employment. An FIR, complaint, ongoing investigation or chargesheet will not, by itself, lead to disqualification if a competent court has not framed charges, subject to specific provisions for certain offences, it stated. The policy also provides exceptions for cases involving final acquittal or discharge, legally recognised compromises, government withdrawal, quashing by the high court or Supreme Court, and certain minor offences. The policy applies to direct recruitment across state government departments and subordinate organisations, including corporations, councils, educational institutions, autonomous bodies, public undertakings, panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies. It will also cover cases already pending. The appointment department issued the clarification that the rules should not be construed as grounds for denying employment to candidates for ideological differences, criticism of the government or peaceful protest.
A government order issued by principal secretary (appointments) M Devraj on Wednesday stated that the policy supersedes orders dating back to 1958 and lays down uniform criteria for verifying candidates’ antecedents. The department said the provision was already part of a government order issued on April 28, 1958.
Any candidate found to be a member of an organisation that pledges or aims to alter the “vidyaman vyavastha” (established social system) through violent methods will be deemed ineligible for state employment, according to the circular. Existing state government employees will not require fresh character verifications, though necessary service records may be requisitioned from their previous parent departments, it said.
