HC clears way for 30K 'safai karamcharis'

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday cleared the way for appointment of 30,000 'safai karamcharis' by striking down the 'illegal' order of the department of local bodies for bifurcating appointments in two phases on caste lines.
The department of local bodies had invited applications for appointment of safai karamcharis for 11,377 posts in 2012. But the number of posts was increased to 30,000 on May 3, 2013, by an order issued by the deputy director of the department with a rider that in the first phase of the appointment, 20,000 candidates belonging to the general and SC category would be given posting.
It said that in the second phase, ST and OBC candidates would be considered for appointment, which was challenged in the court by Vimla Mali and others on the ground that this is against the existing reservation system.
Justice M N Bhandari said, "Bifurcating the appointment in two phases was illegal. Neither the constitution nor the rules provide for such bifurcation in appointments."
The court said that if the department intended to fill 20,000 posts in the first phase, the appointments should have been for all castes as per the reservation rules. The court said the department has thus made gross illegality by issuing such an order.
The court directed that the department should provide each petitioner Rs 2,000 as cost while directing the department to complete the appointments within six weeks as per the new directions.