PANAJI: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has appealed President of India to ensure protection and preservation of fundamental rights for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities in government jobs and promotions.
It was enacted not just to mark the end of British rule, but also to correct the historical injustices committed by citizens against one another, especially against the downtrodden and the deprived.
The long freedom struggle led by the Indian National Congress was not only a political movement but one of social reform as well. It led to India's independence and the carving out of a nation founded upon the intrinsic principles of justice, equality, liberty and fraternity among all castes, creeds, and religions.?
The millions who make up the SC/ST/OBC population are equal stakeholders in India'sdemocratic process. The Constitution dedicated an entire chapter to securing the fundamental rights of its citizens. Article 15 (4) and Article 16(4) read with Articles 46, 335, 341 and 342 ensure and enshrine the principles of reservation in government jobs, appointments and educational institutions for members of SC, ST and OBC communities.
The fundamental and constitutional duty of every government is to ensure protection for SC, STs, and OBCs through reservation in government jobs, positions, and educational institutions.
Referring to the judgment dated February 7, 2020, by the Supreme Court of India in the case of Mahesh Kumar v/s State of Uttarakhand, the Congress said that it was shocked and surprised to learn that the BJP government in Uttarakhand argued that reservations were neither a fundamental rights nor a constitutional duty on the part of the government to provide reservations either in appointments or promotions to public posts.
This is a complete betrayal of the trust and faith reposed in the Constitution and the government both, Central and State by the citizens of this country and especially those who belong to the SC, ST and OBC communities, it said.
"Your honor may note that this is not the first time such dilution has been attempted by the BJP in government. Since they have come to power at the Centre, there has been an abolition of the SC/ST Sub Plan. There was also an attempt to dilute the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 which the BJP government was compelled to remedy (by way of amendment recently) following nationwide protests," the Congress said.
The people of Goa and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee demands that the Government of India take suitable action to enact a law protecting job security and reservation for the underprivileged SC, ST, OBC, and Dalits.
The Congress has hoped that the President will treat the matter with the urgency it deserves and take all necessary steps to ensure that the fundamental right of reservation in government jobs is secured and protected.
The letter is jointly signed by GPCC president Girish Chodankar, Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat, OBC department convenor Sandesh Khorjuenkar, Adivasi Congress convenor Ramkrisha Jalmi, and SC department convenor Shambhu Bhau Bandekar.