SHILLONG, April 13: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Thursday submitted a three-point memorandum to the state’s Chief Secretary, Donald P. Wahlang on the roster system.
The first point is on implementing the roster prospectively. “We would like to see the government implement the roster prospectively and not retrospectively,” HYC president Robert Kharjahrin said. The second point is against any backlog of posts that have lapsed while the third seeks the reservation of 80% of jobs for people in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills
Kharjahrin said the High Court of Meghalaya had categorically stated in its recent disposal order that the state government has not put a cut-off date for the implementation of the roster system, leaving it to the legislature to determine such a date.
“Based on that order, we gave our representation to the Chief Secretary to put our point that if the government of India has to decide the cut-off date, it should be May 2022,” he said.
He pointed out that the Supreme Court had on many occasions, especially in the RK Subramaniam case, clearly stated that the roster system should be implemented prospectively and not retrospectively.
“We would like to see if the government decides either through the state Assembly or the all-party meeting or even the Cabinet sets the cut-off date from 2022,” Kharjahrin said.
Stating that some departments have started talking about filling up the backlog posts, he said, “What is necessary to understand is that according to the Meghalaya Job Reservation Policy, if any category of post cannot be filled up, those from another category can be accommodated for adjustment in the next recruitment year,” he said.
“But if that post cannot be filled up in a particular recruitment category, that post will lapse. When it lapses, how can you talk about backlog?” he asked.
“When it comes to the backlog, there should not be any deviation from the policy,” he said.
Referring to the district recruitment agencies in East Khasi and West Khasi Hills where separate rosters are given for the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo communities, Kharjahrin said the government should adhere to the recruitment policy that prescribes 80% reservation for the Khasi-Jaintia people in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills and the Garos in the Garo Hills.
He hoped that the Chief Secretary would place the matter before the Cabinet, which would consider the HYC’s point of view.
Kharjahrin resented the “huge misunderstanding” between the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo communities on social media and the streets and advised the government to step in to end any misgiving.
