Practice restraint in servant seniority rules: Uttar Pradesh govt

Claiming that efforts were being made to mislead people on the issue of reservation to SC/ST and resultant seniority, the Uttar Pradesh government today appealed to its staff to practice patience and wait for the Supreme Court's judgement.

"From the last few days efforts are being made to disturb law and order and disturb public order through rallies, demonstrations and dharna and stop train traffic by spreading misnomer on the issue of reservation to SC/ST and resultant seniority," principal secretary home Fateh Bahadur told reporters here.

He said the state goverment had made a provision of resultant seniority to SC/ST personnel through the 85th amendment in the 'UP Government Servant seniority rules September 2007.

Provisions made by the government were challenged in the Allahabad High Court on which an order was passed on January 4 this year, he said.

The HC had quashed the seniority rules for providing reservation in promotions for state employees when a division bench comprising Justice Pradip Kant and Justice Rituraj Awasthi pronounced this judgement on about 50 writ petitions challenging the "UP Government servant seniority rules."

The principal secretary said that the government has fild a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court, which was still pending.

"In an interim order passed on February 28, the SC directed to maintain status quo till further orders. The state  government is effectively pursuing the SLP in the apex court," he said.

In the meantime it has come to the knowledge of the government that efforts were being made to break law and disturb public order by spreading misnomer on this issue, he said.

"The government appeals to all concerned parties that the issue is pending before the SC and they should practice restrain, wait for the judgement and not indulge in any activity which disturbs law and order and create problems for the people," he said.

The principal secretary said that all officials and employees were equal for the government, which is sensitive and aware towards the interests of all sections.