Dalit tops SC merit list, but Punjab govt denies him job

CHANDIGARH: A dalit from Patiala district of Punjab is fighting for a government job despite his topping the SC category merit list 11 years ago.

Gurmit Singh, a resident of Sarai Banjara village in Patiala district, had applied for the post of Lascar (sewadar), a fourth class post in higher education department, under scheduled caste category in 1996. He secured 66 marks out of 100 as per the merit list prepared by Subordinate Services Selection Board (SSSB), Punjab in 2001.

According to documents accessed by TOI, his name was recommended as per the list of general category as he had secured more marks than the last general category candidate, who had secured 65 marks. As per rules, Gurmit Singh was placed at serial number 22 in the merit list of 40 successful candidates of general category.

However, these appointments were not made for the next ten years. In 2011, the government selected just four candidates from general category and two from the SC category as the number of total posts was reduced to just 14 for all categories against the original advertisement for 56 posts.

Gurmit Singh could not be offered appointment, being lower in the merit list of general candidates. He was not considered in the reserved category because his name was already placed in the general category.

Gurmit Singh told TOI that he approached Punjab government officials, but in vain.

"The two selected candidates from the reserved category have less marks than me," said Gurmit Singh, 37, in a memorandum to National Commission for Scheduled Castes on May 29.

"Its injustice to me," said Singh, a labourer by profession. "My name should be placed in the reserved category instead of general category so that an appointment letter can be issued to me," he added.

Taking his case seriously, vice-chairman of NCSC, Dr Raj Kumar Verka, held a meeting with Punjab officials at Chandigarh on June 21. Admitting the facts, officials of SSSB clarified that a decision in this regard will now be taken by DPI (colleges).

According to records, DPI (colleges) argued that if the total number of posts (56) advertised were filled, Gurmeet could have been issued an appointment letter. But, as the number of posts was reduced to 14, he could not be offered appointment, being lower in the merit list of general candidates.

The commission officials said, "Gurmit should not lose his merit position in the select panel of SC candidates having obtained more marks than the first candidate (64) in the select panel of SCs."

The commission on June 29 asked the DPI (colleges) to consider his name for issue of appointment letter immediately. Observing that no action was taken even after two months, the commission on August 28 sent a communication to Punjab's principal secretary (higher education), G Vajralingam, asking him to inform the commission within seven days about the action taken in the case.

Source: The Hindusatan Times