*The Light of Andamans :: Issue 12 :: 24 March 2007*
**
OBC scheme still entangled in various intricacies

By O Abdul Rahman

OBC reservation is already in place in these islands. Many Govt. departments
have successfully implemented the concept with its true spirits, such as the
Andaman & Nicobar Police and the Accounts & Budget dept. But, majority of
the departments are still fumbling with various intricacies for want of
clear understanding of the basics of the scheme. Not long ago, the APWD had
come out with a press note publishing the names of successful candidates in
the written test for the posts of Junior Engineer and Draughtsman. The list
was issued in such a way that any one could doubt it. Name of candidates
belonging to General, OBC and ST were shown separately as if those were the
real merit lists for each category and that the meritorious candidates from
OBC/ST categories would not find their names in the General (Unreserved)
list even if they excel the General candidates. This was a wrong move.

The stake-holders resisted the action through a NGO but not except the
Secretary (TW) could be convinced of the implication. With the intervention
of Shri.Joshi, Secretary (TW) the Administration issued a detailed circular
on 19th March, 2007 clarifying all doubtful aspects of the scheme of
reservation for OBCs/STs. In another case, the Directorate of Shipping
Services had to be persuaded through the administration to provide for
reserved quota of posts to the OBCs by amending the two notifications
already published by them in the Daily Telegrams.

Now, a vital question remaining unanswered is that neither the stake-holders
nor any organization will have reach to the records of roasters being
prepared by the departments of setting apart various posts under different
categories before publishing the vacancies. As per Govt. of India, Ministry
of Perl. Public Grievances & Pension (DOPT) OM NO.3601 12/2/96-Estt.(Res)
dated 2.7.1997, the reservation should be on Post-based and not on
vacancy-based. That means the number of actual vacancies available as on
16.12.2005 and the vacancies added thereafter should be added to the number
of posts already filled in that particular category of post to arrive at the
serial numbers of vacant posts as per model roaster for 200 points issued by
the administrations. For example, if the total sanctioned strength of the
post of Junior Engineer (E& M) is 100 and 80 posts are already filled in
with 20 vacant posts now proposed to the filled in from among General, OBC
and ST candidates. Before notifying the vacancies, the roaster has to be
up-dated by giving serial numbers to the vacant posts from 81 to 100
(instead of 1 to 20). Now, the model roaster will tell us to whom the posts
from sl.no.81 to 100 are to set aside. The back-log vacancies, if any, have
to be carried forward as usual.

It is felt that the dealing hands mostly from AC cadre are hardly given in
service trainings as a matter of policy and they are expected to handle many
complicated issues. A doubt already exists in the minds of many that
appointments
against reserved vacancies made so far was on vacancy-based instead of
post-based and if so such cases may have to be re-opened.
The writer is the the general secretary of Andaman Moplah Service
Organisation (AMSO)


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