TN CM Stalin Slams 'Lateral Entry' In Bureaucracy As 'Direct Assault On Social Justice', Pitches For Caste Census

Stalin demanded that the government halt the lateral entry scheme and focus on addressing the backlog of vacancies for SC, ST, and OBC candidates, as well as ensuring fair promotions. 

Stalin also addressed the issue of the creamy layer concept which he has consistently opposed.

Source : Facebook

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin on Tuesday strongly criticised the Union Government's recent move to recruit officials through lateral entry into the UPSC, calling it a direct attack on social justice. He contends that this practice undermines the opportunities of meritorious candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and minority communities, effectively marginalizing them from top positions.

In his statement on X, Stalin demanded that the government halt the lateral entry scheme and focus on addressing the backlog of vacancies for SC, ST, and OBC candidates, as well as ensuring fair promotions. 

"The Union Govt must halt this practice, prioritise filling backlog vacancies for OBCs & SC/STs, and ensure fair and equitable promotions," he said.

Stalin also addressed the issue of the creamy layer concept, which he has consistently opposed. He called for its complete abolition and urged that the current ceiling for the creamy layer be increased without delay to better reflect the economic realities faced by these communities.

👇🏾 To uphold #SocialJustice, safeguard #Reservation and ensure its rightful implementation, the following steps must be taken immediately:

🎯 #LateralEntry is a direct assault on #SocialJustice, depriving the meritorious SC, ST, OBC and minority officers of their deserved…

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 20, 2024

 

Additionally, Stalin emphasised the need for a nationwide caste census stating "Above all, a nationwide Caste Census is imperative to guarantee that educational and job opportunities are justly distributed to all backward and oppressed sections of our society, who have been historically denied their rightful share."

This critique comes in response to a recent UPSC initiative inviting applications for 45 mid-level positions, including joint secretaries, directors, and deputy secretaries, through lateral entry.

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and several other leaders launched a scathing attack against the UPSC lateral entry,