Reservation for SC/ST & OBCs in Central Govt Services - Filling up of Reserved Vacancies

Reservation for SC/ST & OBCs in Central Govt Services - Filling up of Reserved Vacancies

DoPT Estsblishment (Reservation)

Brochure on Reservation For SC, ST and Other Backward Classes in Services (PART-I)

CHAPTER-6

FILLING UP OF RESERVED VACANCIES

Direct Recruitment

6.1 When direct recruitment is to be made for reserved as well as unreserved vacancies on any

one occasion, a single advertisement should be issued specifying clearly therein the vacancies

reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs. ( O.M.No.36012/6/88-Estt.(SCT),

SRD dated 6.9.1999)

6.2 While notifying the vacancies to the local or the regional employment exchange, a single

requisition should be sent to the Employment Exchange for such reserved and unreserved vacancies.

The number of vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs out of the total

vacancies notified should be clearly indicated in the requisition to the employment Exchange. The

following certificate should also, be given in the requisition:

“Certified that the number of vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled

Tribes/OBCs/ex-servicemen/ Persons with Disabilities is in accordance with the

reservation quota fixed by Government for these categories.”

6.3 If sufficient number of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates are not available or are

not sponsored by the Employment Exchange for the reserved vacancies, the appointing authority

should also intimate the reserved vacancies to the Director of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes

Welfare in the State/Union Territory concerned.

6.4 The vacancies should also be brought to the notice of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe

Organizations recognized by this Department for the purpose of notifying to them the vacancies. It

may, however, be made clear to such organizations that their function is limited to advising the

Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates about the recruitment proposed and that it will not be

for them to recommend or press the names of any individuals. The candidates should apply to the

appointing authority either direct or through the Employment Exchange, as the case may be.

6.5 Where sufficient number of candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC are not available to fill up

the vacancies reserved for them in direct recruitment, the vacancies should not be filled by

candidates not belonging to these communities. In other words, there is a ban on de-reservation of

vacancies reserved for SCs, STs and OBCs in direct recruitment.

6.6 If sufficient number of suitable SC/ST/OBC candidates are not available to fill up vacancies

reserved for them in the first attempt of recruitment, a second attempt should be made for recruiting

suitable candidates belonging to the concerned category in the same recruitment year or as early as

possible before the next recruitment year to fill up these vacancies. If the required number of

SC/ST/OBC candidates are not even then available, the vacancies which could not be filled up shall

remain unfilled until the next recruitment year. These vacancies will be treated as “backlog

vacancies.”

6.7 In the subsequent recruitment year when recruitment is made for the vacancies of that year

(called the current vacancies), the backlog vacancies of SCs, STs and OBCs will also be announced

for recruitment. While doing so, it may be kept in view that the vacancies of the particular

recruitment year i.e. the current vacancies will be treated as one group and backlog vacancies of

SCs, STs and OBCs as a separate and distinct group. Of the vacancies in the first group, not more

than 50% of the vacancies shall be reserved. Vacancies in the second group i.e. all the backlog

vacancies reserved for SCs, STs and OBCs will be filled up by the candidates belonging to category

concerned without any restriction whatsoever as they belong to distinct group of backlog vacancies

of SCs, STs and OBCs.

6.8 Vacancies reserved for SCs/STs/OBCs which could not be filled up and are carried forward

as backlog vacancies and remain unfilled in the following recruitment year also, will be carried

forward as backlog vacancies for subsequent recruitment year(s) as long as these are not filled by

candidates of the category for which these are reserved.

6.9 In posts filled otherwise than through examination, normally six to seven candidates

belonging to the community for which the post is reserved may be called for interview for each

reserved vacancy, subject to availability of such candidates fulfilling the qualifications prescribed

for the post. Where the response from the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Class 

47

candidates is exceptionally good, the recruiting authority may, having regard to the merits of each

case, call as many as 10 to 12 candidates of the respective category for each reserved vacancy for

the purpose of interview/selection.

6.10 In direct recruitment made otherwise than through examination and in direct recruitment made

though examination followed by an interview, the interview of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe

candidates should be held on a day or sitting of the Selection Committee other than the day or sitting

on which general candidates are to be interviewed so that the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe

candidates are not judged in comparison with general candidates and the interviewing

authority/Board is/are prominently aware of the need for judging the Scheduled Caste /Scheduled

Tribe candidates by relaxed standards.(O.M No.27/14/71-Estt.(SCT) dated 30/01/1973)

Promotion by Selection

6.11 In case of promotion by selection, selection against vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes

and Scheduled Tribes should be made only from among those Scheduled Caste /Scheduled Tribe

officers who are within the normal zone of consideration. Where adequate number of SC/ST

candidates are not available within the normal field of choice, it may be extended to 5 times the

number of vacancies and the SC/ST candidates (and not any other candidates) coming within the

extended field of choice should also be considered against the vacancies reserved for them. The

following instructions will apply to the filling of vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes and

Scheduled Tribes in such promotions:

(i) Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe officers who are within the normal zone of

consideration shall be considered for promotion alongwith others and adjudged on

the same basis as others and those Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe officers

amongst them who are selected on that basis may be included in the general select

list. If some of the SC/ST candidates so selected have been selected on their own

merit in all respect and are so placed in the select list that their names fall within the

number of unreserved vacancies, such candidates shall be adjusted against unreserved

vacancies.

(ii) If number of candidates from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes other than the

candidates selected on their own merit who are adjusted against unreserved vacancies 

48

is less than the number of vacancies reserved for them, the difference should be made

up by selecting candidates of these communities who are in the zone of consideration

irrespective of merit but who are considered fit for promotion.

(iii) If the number of SC/ST candidates found fit for promotion against reserved vacancies

is still less than the number of vacancies reserved for them, the difference should be

made up by selecting candidates of these communities who are in the extended zone

of consideration irrespective of merit but who are considered fit for promotion.

(iv) A select list should then be prepared in which the names of all the selected officers,

general as well as those belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, are

arranged in the order of merit and seniority according to the general principles for

promotion to selection posts. However, such of the SC/ST candidates who are in the

extended field and get selected should en block be placed in the end by maintaining

their inter se position in accordance with their gradation by the DPC. This select list

should, thereafter, be followed for making promotions in vacancies as and when they

arise during the year.

Promotion by Non-Selection

6.12 In case of promotion by non-selection, all Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates

covered in the relevant seniority list within the total number of such vacancies against which the

promotions are to be made, shall be considered in the order of their general seniority, and if they are

not judged unfit, they shall be promoted. If the number of Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe

candidates found fit within the range of actual vacancies is less than the number of vacancies

reserved for them, additional Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe candidates to the extent required

shall be located by going down the seniority list, provided they are eligible and found fit for

appointment.

Note 1: In order to ensure proper implementation of reservation of vacancies for Scheduled Castes

and Scheduled Tribes in promotion, number of vacancies should be assessed as accurately as

possible. Purely short term vacancies should not be taken into account for this purpose; nor should

any addition be made to cover unforeseen vacancies. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that

the number of vacancies is not reduced. All clear vacancies arising due to death, retirement,

resignation and long term promotion of incumbents from one post/grade to a higher post/ grade 

49

should be taken into account while fixing the number of vacancies and the number of reserved

vacancies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Note 2: Since appointment to Selection Grade also constitutes promotion, the appropriate orders

relating to reservation/concessions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in promotions, would

apply to the appointment to the Selection Grade also.

Note 3: While constituting the Departmental Promotion Committee, instructions regarding

nomination of SC/ST officers on the DPC, as issued from time to time, should be followed.

Steps To Be Taken in Case of Non-Availability of SC/ST Candidates for Promotion

6.13 If sufficient number of SC/ST candidates fit for promotion against reserved vacancies is not

available, such vacancies may be de-reserved as per prescribed procedure and filled by candidates of

other communities.

6.14 If sufficient number of SC/ST candidates fit for promotion against reserved vacancies is not

available and such vacancies can also not be de-reserved for reasons like non-availability of

candidates of other categories to fill up the posts etc., the vacancies shall not be filled and will

remain unfilled and will be treated as “backlog vacancies”.

( O.M.No.36020/2/2007-Estt.(Res) dated 7/12/2009)

6.15 In the subsequent recruitment year when recruitment is made for the vacancies of that year

(called the current vacancies), the backlog vacancies of SCs and STs will also be filled up, keeping

the current vacancies and the backlog vacancies of SCs and STs as two distinct groups. Of the

current vacancies, not more than 50% of the vacancies shall be reserved. However, all the backlog

vacancies reserved for SCs and STs will be filled up by candidates belonging to the concerned

category without any restriction whatsoever as they belong to distinct group of backlog vacancies.

Diversion of Reserved Vacancies from Promotion Quota to Direct Recruitment

6.16 Where recruitment to a grade is made both by promotion and direct recruitment i.e. where

separate quota for promotion and direct recruitment are prescribed in the Recruitment Rules,

reserved vacancies falling in the promotion quota which cannot be filled due to non-availability of

eligible persons belonging to SC/ST in the feeder cadre may be temporarily diverted to the direct 

50

recruitment quota and filled by recruitment of candidates belonging to SC or ST, as the case may be,

in accordance with the provisions relating to direct recruitment contained in the Recruitment Rules.

In the subsequent year(s) when reserved vacancies in the direct recruitment quota become available

they may be diverted to the promotion quota to make up for the vacancies diverted earlier and

filled from SC/ST candidates in the feeder cadre who might by then become eligible for promotion.

This involves relaxation of the Recruitment Rules. The Ministries/Departments may themselves

exercise the power of relaxation subject to approval of UPSC, wherever necessary.

Safeguards against Supersession of SC/ST Candidates

6.17 In posts filled by promotion (by selection or by non-selection) wherever the orders regarding

reservation apply the following procedure should be observed by the appointing authorities, in

regard to cases where eligible Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates, though available, are

not appointed/selected for the reserved as well as unreserved vacancies:

(a) In promotions to Group A and within Group A – Such cases should be submitted to

the Minister/ Minister of State/Deputy Minister concerned, as the case may be.

(b) In promotion to Group B and within Group B – Such cases should be reported to the

Minister/Minister of State/Deputy Minister concerned, as the case may be, within a

period of one month of the finalization of the select list.

(c) In promotion to and in Group C and within Group D – Such cases should be reported

to the Head of the Department, if the appointing authority is lower than the level of

the Head of the Department, and where the Head of the Department is himself the

appointing authority, to the Secretary of the administrative Ministry/Department.

6.18 In regard to promotions by selection from Group A post to a Group A post which carries an

ultimate salary of Rs. 18,300 (pre-revised) or less, cases where the Scheduled Caste / Scheduled

Tribe candidates available within the number of vacancies for which the select list is drawn are not

selected, should be submitted to the Minister / Minister of State / Deputy Minister concerned, as the

case may be.

Implementation of the Findings of DPC Kept in Sealed Cover

51

6.19 According to the instruction contained in the Ministry of Home Affairs Office

Memorandum No.39/3/59-Estt.(A) dated the 31st August, 1960, the findings of the Department

Promotion Committee in respect of a person under suspension or against whom vigilance enquiries

are pending are kept in sealed cover and a vacancy is kept reserved for him and is filled only on

officiating basis till the finalization of the departmental proceedings. If the officer is completely

exonerated and the charges leveled against him are proved to be wholly unjustified then he is

promoted to the vacancy which had been filled on an officiating basis and which was reserved for

him. In such cases, the junior most officer officiating in the grade i.e. the officer occupying the

lowest position in the panel is reverted. Where such reversion becomes necessary, the reversions

should be made in such a manner that the total number of SC/ST candidates in the cadre appointed

by reservation is not reduced below the reservation prescribed for them.