SHILLONG, Dec 19: The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) has threatened to go to court if the state government does not take steps to enact the State Reservation Policy.
Talking to reporters after meeting commissioner and secretary of Personnel and AR (B) department Ripnar Lyngdoh here on Monday, HITO president Donbok Dkhar rued the failure of the state government to give shape to the reservation policy since 1972.
“Not turning the policy into an Act can be challenged in the court of law,” he said.
Citing documents received through RTI, Dkhar said the Secretary (Special) to the Meghalaya government had issued the reservation policy on January 12, 1972.
The policy was modified or amended through subsequent notifications on December 18, 1972, November 25, 1976, September 12, 1979, December 19, 1981, October 30, 2006, and August 7, 2017, Lyngdoh said.
“As per the said resolution(s), the following reservation was made in favour of the STs/SCs in posts and services in connection with the affairs of Meghalaya which are filled by direct recruitment,” he said.
The HITO president said the notification prescribed a reservation of 40% of the vacancies in favour of Khasis and Jaintias, 40% for Garos and 5% for other STs/SCs in Meghalaya.
“It is thus evident that the reservation policy in Meghalaya is only applicable to posts and services in Meghalaya which are filled by direct recruitment,” he stated.
Referring to a notification issued on June 16, 1973, he said it was provided that public undertakings and government-aided institutions should make reservations in their services on the lines adopted by the state government. The notification also requested the departments concerned to follow the principle of reservation of vacancies as envisaged in the government resolution of January 12, 1972, for appointments.
Dkhar recalled Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma stating in the Assembly on April 6, 2018, that the reservation policy does not include admission quota for higher studies, especially in polytechnic, MBBS and engineering.
“Therefore, it appears that the state’s reservation policy is only applicable for the purposes of direct recruitment and/or appointment to posts and services in connection with the affairs of Meghalaya and under the public undertakings and government-aided institutions,” he said.
But the reply to an RTI application on October 17, 2018, by the under-secretary to the Personnel and AR (B) Department, stated: “The principle and spirit of the reservation policy is extended/applied for admission in state government educational institutions, including higher and professional studies.”
In reality, no such order or office memorandum has been issued, Dkhar said and urged the state government to ensure that the reservation policy is extended for higher education. “The policy should become an Act to avoid any legal action in the future,” he added.
