Latest news with #ScheduledCastes
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Promotion of state govt staff sets in motion after cabinet nod
Bhopal: As the Madhya Pradesh cabinet paved way for the promotion of govt employees after nine years, the departments will soon start the promotion process based on the cabinet decision. Meanwhile, SAPAKS is preparing to challenge the new promotion rules in court. The govt is also aware of the issue and has directed the departments to expedite the promotion of govt employees, as per the rules cleared in the cabinet meeting. The process will commence soon after the departments receive the notification from the general administration department in this regard. Chief minister Mohan Yadav chaired the cabinet meeting held on Tuesday in the secretariat. The cabinet approved the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Promotion Rules, 2025, ensuring the representation and protection of the interests of the reserved categories. Provisions include a 20% reservation for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and 16% for Scheduled Castes (SC). SC and ST public servants will also have the opportunity for promotion based on merit. SAPAKS, an organisation of general category, OBC, and minority govt employees, president KS Tomar said, "We have no option but to challenge the rules in court." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eat 1 Teaspoon Every Night, See What Happens A Week Later! [Video] getfittoday Undo After the cabinet meeting, the govt stated that it has been provided that promotion committees may meet in the current year itself to prepare selection lists for the next year's vacancies, i.e., provisions for advance DPCs (Departmental Promotion Committees) have been included. Due weightage is given to seniority, and among senior officials, those obtaining the minimum qualifying marks will be eligible for promotion. For Class I officers, a merit-cum-seniority principle will apply. The rules aim to encourage efficiency, with clear criteria defining ineligibility for promotion. Circumstances under which an official becomes ineligible and the impact of penalties are clearly outlined. Provisions have been made for holding review DPCs for reconsideration of decisions. The new rules eliminate the system of rotation, which will help create more promotional posts. DPCs are empowered to determine the suitability of candidates, the govt stated. The problem for the general category employees is that SC and ST public servants will also have the opportunity for promotion based on merit, in addition to the 20% reservation for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and 16% for Scheduled Castes (SC). The govt is aware of the grounds on which the promotion rules will be challenged in court, and officials mentioned they have also done their homework. The promotion of the state govt employees has been on hold since 2016. Over a lakh of govt employees have retired while waiting to get promotions.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Ambedkar row: State SC panel issues notice to Lalu
Patna: Bihar State Commission for Scheduled Castes has issued a notice to RJD chief Lalu Prasad , demanding a response within 15 days as to why a case under the SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act should not be filed against him for allegedly disrespecting a photograph of Dr B R Ambedkar. The incident occurred during Lalu's birthday celebration on June 11. The letter, signed by commission vice-president Devendra Kumar on June 13, read, "You (Lalu) have insulted the photo of Constitution maker Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar on your birthday, which is being continuously seen on social media. The insult of Baba Saheb has hurt the honour of not only one class but the entire country. Therefore, give an explanation within 15 days and tell why a case should not be registered against you under the Scheduled Castes, Tribes Atrocities Act. " The controversy arose from a viral video showing an RJD worker placing Ambedkar's picture as a gift on a table near Lalu's feet. Lalu neither acknowledged nor touched the photograph, nor made any comment. The BJP has strongly criticised the incident. In defence, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Lalu's son and former deputy chief minister, accused the BJP of levelling false accusations. "BJP has nothing to do with the principles and policies of Baba Saheb. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eat 1 Teaspoon Every Night, See What Happens A Week Later [Video] getfittoday Undo Today, even at the age of 78, Laluji meets people for 10 hours. But those making allegations have no shame at all. BJP should learn that even at this age Laluji remains in touch with the public," he said. Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary wrote on X on Sunday, "It has been more than 36 hours since the video of Baba Saheb's insult came out. The whole of Bihar is hurt by that video, but not even two words of regret have come from RJD. Bihar has definitely seen the arrogance of Lalu's beloved son Tejashwi. Our question is that even after insulting Baba Saheb by keeping his photo near his feet, Lalu's son does not feel it is an insult, then after what other will RJD accept as an insult?" Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor also criticised Lalu and took a swipe at the Congress. "Rahul Gandhi says don't be afraid. Lalu had his feet in front of Baba Saheb's photo. If you have the courage, then show it by giving a statement on it," he said in Muzaffarpur on Sunday. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chasing Dalit vote without addressing the social divide
At the 15th Convention of the Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Caste Federation held at the Ramlila ground in Agra on March 18, 1956, BR Ambedkar shared the reasoning behind his assertion that the Scheduled Castes (SC) were not Hindus. He said, 'If we had been Hindus, then we would not have been untouchables. Instead, we would have been pujaris (priests) in the temples.' Ambedkar's words continue to echo, given that untouchability, on a much-diminished scale though, remains a social reality seven decades after it was abolished and its practice in any form declared a punishable offence. Ironically, eradicating untouchability or social isolation of Dalits is no longer a major agenda of any political party though the scheduled castes are a much-wooed vote bloc. In March this year, Agra, where Ambedkar had installed a statue of Buddha (his ashes are kept near the statue), saw caste tensions escalate after the Rajasthan-based Karni Sena ransacked the house of Samajwadi Party MP and a Dalit, Ramji Lal Suman over his unwarranted remarks about a mediaeval-era Rajput ruler, Rana Sanga. Since then, reports of Dalit wedding processions in UP, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh being attacked or stopped in areas dominated by the upper castes have become frequent. The contradiction between Dalits being wooed in the electoral battlefield and rejected in the social space is not new. Dalits first emerged as a political constituency in northern India in the 1980s. The 1990s saw growing Dalit assertiveness under the leadership of the Bahujan Samaj Party, which even formed the government in Lucknow twice. At the same time, renting a house in UP on a non-Dalit street was a challenge for Dalits. In the mid-1990s, a Banaras Hindu University (BHU) professor had to hide his caste from the landlady to rent her premises in Varanasi. A Dalit intellectual, who had returned from the US to be with his aging parents, had to run from pillar to post to get decent accommodation in New Delhi. The scenario has not changed much. In 2025, a businessman in Agra failed to get a decent house, while a landlord in Prayagraj returned the advance payment after knowing the caste of the tenant. Ashok Bharti, chairman of National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations, says, 'Being a Dalit in India means a life of challenges. Wherever, whichever direction Dalits go, caste is the monster that crosses their path. They can't buy or rent a house in a colony dominated by upper castes, Dalit children in schools can't get water or mid-day meals. In colleges, they are humiliated for accessing reservations and, in employment, their caste reaches before they join. However, the situation is improving. Dalit assertion is compelling and with the support of many progressive savarnas, they can now be seen in all places.' Untouchability infuriates Dalits, of course, but does it influence their political choices? The issue is absent in the poll agenda of even Dalit parties such as BSP, RPI, and Dalit Panthers even though they have been advocating social empowerment via political empowerment. But all political parties are pursuing the Dalit voter: Since the political preferences of major castes and communities are known, the scramble is for non-aligned Dalit voters. The success of the PDA (pichra or backward, Dalit, and alpsankhyak or minority) formula of the Samajwadi Party in the 2024 general election has intensified the wooing. This has alarmed the Sangh Parivar which has been struggling to unite the Hindu population (80% of India's population) under the Hindutva banner. It is in this context that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat recently gave a call for social harmony — Bhagwat had been on a month-long tour of UP in April 2025. He reiterated the message in an RSS resolution — one temple, one well, and one cremation ground for all in villages to end untouchability. The 2017 resolution also noted that words and wishful thinking would not be enough. Pravin Togadia, then international working president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), had asked 'every non-Dalit Hindu to befriend at least one Dalit family.' But these statements have survived mostly as gestures. As RSS cadres and BJP functionaries fan out to the rural areas to explain their commitment to the constitutional rights of Dalits, the latter reiterate Ambedkar's words: 'If RSS really wants to abolish untouchability, they should appoint Dalit pujaris (priests) in temples and start inter-caste marriages (called roti-beti ka rishta in common parlance).' That said, there is a churn within the Dalit political community. Dalits worship Ambedkar and get protective about the Constitution, but the Dalit vote is neither a consolidated bloc nor is it the monopoly of any one party. With all political parties promising them the moon, the Dalit vote bloc has disintegrated. Welfare schemes of the Union government have attracted many to the BJP. Ambedkar had said Dalits don't worship Hindu idols, but some Dalit sub-castes are making a beeline for Ayodhya and Kashi. Jatavs, the largest chunk among the Dalits, are, however, embracing Buddhism. In this melee, younger Dalits are weighing their political options. They are restless, aggressive, and aware of their rights. On May 25, Dalits of a village in UP's Etah district sent a clear message to the authorities by refusing to allow a shobha yatra to pass through their village in retaliation to the district administration's alleged discriminatory act of not granting them permission for their procession on Ambedkar Jayanti in April. The message is clear: Do not take us for granted. It is this fault line the BJP will need to address if it wants to win over Dalits and defuse caste tensions in the states under the party. The views expressed are personal.
Hans India
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Survey of SCs to continue at ‘citizen centric services' centres
Bengaluru: A provision has been made to continue the survey for gathering the empirical data, aimed at providing internal reservation among Scheduled Castes (SCs) in Karnataka, at the 9,400 state level 'citizen centric services' centres from June 9 to 22, the commission overseeing the survey said. With about 10 per cent of the survey yet to be completed and amid requests for time extension, the commission headed by retired judge of the Karnataka High Court H N Nagmohan Das, who has been tasked to recommend to the government the internal reservation among SCs, has made this announcement. 'Currently, the 'Comprehensive Survey of the Scheduled Castes-2025', is being carried out across the state of Karnataka from April 5 onwards in 2 modes at special camps and online self-declarations. As of date i.e., June 6, an overall progress of 90 per cent has been achieved in the survey across the state,' an official release dated June 7 that was released to media on Sunday said. It said about 10 per cent of the caste survey is yet to be completed. In addition to this, some Scheduled Caste organisations have once again submitted representations, requesting for time extension to complete the said survey. The commission, however, pointed out that in the wake of the schools reopening in the state, the teachers who were appointed as enumerators for the survey have been relieved from the survey work. 'Thus, in order to facilitate the continuation of the SC castes' survey for those Scheduled Castes' households of Karnataka, who are yet to submit their data in the Scheduled Caste Survey, a provision has been made to carry out the same at the existing 9,400 state level 'citizen centric services' centers, such as , 'Karnataka One', 'Bengaluru One' and 'Grama One' and also at the 198 'BBMP ward offices', from June 9 to June 22,' it said. In order to submit the required information, the Aadhaar card or ration card of the citizen is required, it further said, adding that a separate camp will be set up at each of the 198 Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ward offices, to carry out this survey. According to officials, the SC population in the state according to the 2011 census was 1.04 crore. In 2025, the projected SC population will be 1.16 crore and out of this 1.05 crore, have been enumerated. Apart from this, the same facility for the survey will also be provided at the Bapuji Seva Kendras, across the state. To enter the said information at the centres, the citizen's Aadhaar card or the ration card number is required. Further, the time limit for Scheduled Caste families for submitting online self declaration has also been extended up to June 22. This can be done through the link: https: As per the government orders earlier and the terms of references, the Commission has to obtain empirical data regarding the representation of the 101 Scheduled Castes' in education and government services in the state of and has to submit a report with suitable recommendations on internal reservation (sub-categorization) of the Scheduled Castes. A section of SCs, like 'SC Left', have been demanding internal reservation, alleging that only a few influential sub-castes were taking away a majority of the benefits, while many communities were still marginalised. The internal reservation is aimed at slicing up the 17 per cent reservation matrix given to 101 Scheduled Castes. The government, in November last year, had appointed Nagmohan Das to head a commission to recommend internal reservation among SCs, after the Supreme Court last year allowed the states to provide internal reservation, and the state cabinet agreed to implement internal reservation. In a landmark verdict delivered by the Supreme Court on August 1 last year, it held that states are constitutionally empowered to make sub-classifications within the SCs, which form a socially heterogeneous class, for granting reservation for the uplift of castes that are socially and educationally more backward.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Man goes back on promise to marry woman with ‘aggressive sexual trait'
New Delhi: Supreme Court has quashed rape charges against a man who had a consensual physical relationship with a 30-year-old woman but backed out of his marriage promise after observing her "aggressive sexual behaviour, obsessive nature, and manipulative and vindictive tendencies". Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Allowing the man's plea to quash the FIRs lodged against him by Cyberabad police in 2022 on the woman's complaints accusing him of establishing a physical relationship with the promise of marriage, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said, "The facts on record clearly establish the vindictive and manipulative tendencies of the complainant and these aspects have a great bearing on the controversy." Writing the judgment, Justice Mehta said allowing the man's prosecution would be nothing but gross abuse of the process of law and the complaints were "nothing but a bundle of lies full of fabricated and malicious unsubstantiated allegations levelled by the complainant (woman)". The court was informed about a similar complaint the woman had lodged against an assistant professor at Osmania University in 2021, where she was studying. What rescued the man in the present case was the chats of the woman, who went by the name 'Muffin' on social media. In the chats, she admitted to being manipulative and her desire to "get a green card holder". "At one point of time, she also stated that it would not be difficult for her to trap the next one. In the very same breath, she mentions that she would not waste time with the accused appellant and needs to 'invest on the next victim'. She also mentions that she would irritate her victims to the extent that they dump her, and she could happily start with the next one. She also stated that she was using the accused appellant," the bench recorded in its judgment. "These chats depict the stark reality about the behavioural pattern of the de-facto complainant who appears to be having manipulative and vindictive tendencies. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Thus, in our opinion, the accused appellant was absolutely justified in panicking and backing out from the proposed marriage upon coming to know of the aggressive sexual behaviour and the obsessive nature of the de-facto complainant," Justices Nath and Mehta said. Quashing the FIRs, the SC said, "Hence, even assuming that the accused appellant retracted from his promise to marry the complainant, it cannot be said that he indulged in sexual intercourse with the de-facto complainant under a false promise of marriage or that the offence was committed by him with the de-facto complainant on the ground that she belonged to the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes community."
