The Union Cabinet approved a a proposal to amend Article 16(4) of the Constitution to remove the term "inadequate representation" to justify reservation in promotion and appointments.
Moving swiftly to circumvent a Supreme Court order, government on Tuesday cleared a bill providing for reservation to SCs and STs in promotions in government jobs and it will be brought in Parliament on Wednesday.
The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved a a proposal to amend Article 16(4) of the Constitution to remove the term "inadequate representation" to justify reservation in promotion and appointments.
The Cabinet nod clears the decks for introduction of a Constitution Amendment Bill in Parliament, a demand of most of the parties, barring the Samajwadi Party.
"The Constitution Amendment Bill will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow either at 12 noon or at 2 pm for consideration and passage," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said.
The previous Uttar Pradesh government headed by Mayawati had provided reservation benefits for SCs, STs in promotions to higher posts in government jobs. The Allahabad High Court has struck down the government decision.
The Supreme Court on April 28 upheld the High Court order and termed the state government decision as unconstitutional and done without any sufficient data.
Subsequently, when the current Monsoon session of parliament began on August 8, several parties vociferously demanded that a bill be brought to circumvent the SC decision.
In view of these demands, the government promised on August 9 that a bill would be brought in parliament.
The Cabinet decision was on Tuesday welcomed by BSP, which has been in the forefront in the demand, but Samajwadi Party criticised it and vowed to oppose.
BJP did not reveal its strategy even as BSP chief Mayawati met Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her counterpart in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley to seek their party's support in ensuring passage of the bill in this session.
The Constituent Amendment Bill will require two-third majority of the members present in each House for passage.
Mayawati voiced apprehensions over fate of the bill in this session in view of disruptions over the coal block allocation issue and appealed to NDA allies, especially BJP, as well as UPA partners to "help" out.
"Given the prevailing situation in parliament, I do not think this bill will be passed during this session. Therefore, I appeal and request to NDA allies and BJP to help in passage of the bill," Mayawati told reporters.
Samajwadi Party, however, criticised the cabinet nod to the bill, saying it was "unconstitutional" and accused the government of doing so to divert attention from the coal block allocation scam.
The government had convened an all-party meeting on August 21 to evolve consensus on the issue. At the meeting, most political parties had favoured the legislation but some parties like BJP had suggested that the government should not rush into such a decision and bring it only after carefully considering all the pros and cons.
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