THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, August 20: After the Centre’s instruction to withdraw the lateral entry advertisement, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has cancelled both the advertisement and the associated recruitment process.
In a circular dated August 20, UPSC announced, “It is for information of all concerned that the Advertisement No.54/2024 pertaining to Lateral recruitment for 45 posts of the level of Joint Secretary/Director/Deputy Secretary in different Departments published in the Employment News, various Newspapers and on the website of the Commission on 17th August, 2024 is cancelled as requested by the requisitioning authority.”
Earlier on Tuesday, amid a dispute over the reservation in the advertised posts, the Centre asked the UPSC to retract its recent advertisement for lateral entry into the bureaucracy.
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Amid increasing pressure from the opposition, Union Minister of State for Personnel and Public Grievances, Jitendra Singh, wrote to UPSC Chairman Preeti Sudan, asking her to withdraw the advertisement to ensure proper representation of marginalized communities in government services.
Backlash from Opposition over 45 lateral entry positions
Notably, the opposition had strongly criticized the Modi government after the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced 45 positions through lateral entry. The decision faced backlash from opposition parties, which argued that it compromised the reservation rights of OBCs, SCs, and STs.
Direct recruitment was planned for 45 positions for the posts of Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Director. These recruitments were to take place across various ministries and were based on experience and expertise.
Jitendra Singh cites PM Modi’s social justice vision
Jitendra Singh’s letter highlighted that for Prime Minister Modi, reservation in public employment is key to social justice. He noted that the specialized, single-cadre posts in the lateral entry recruitment lacked reservation provisions and called for their review. Singh urged the UPSC to cancel the August 17, 2024, advertisement, viewing it as vital for advancing social justice.
