ATSUM alleges violation of reservation quota in RIMS
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, March 18 2023:
Terming declaration of results for recruitment of Lower Division Clerk (LDC) in Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) as "notorious", All Tribal Students' Union Manipur is all set to launch agitation against RIMS, Imphal.
In a written reminder to RIMS director, ATSUM president Paotinthang Lupheng and general secretary SR Andria pointed out that the incumbent RIMS authority had on March 3, declared the LDC recruitment results in gross violation of the reservation quantum for SC, ST and OBC, as laid down by the Government of India.
Subsequently, on March 4 ATSUM demanded RIMS authority to cancel the 'notorious' results but the authority failed to do so.
"After closely monitoring the whole episode of the situation mounting within RIMS administration in the aftermath of the notorious declaration of LDC appointment results, it came to light that despite our repeated appeals to rectify the reservation discrepancy, the incumbent RIMS authority is rather adamant in justifying its deliberate wrongdoing at the persuasion of few administrative officers which compelled us to take an extreme decision to resort to agitation, which will be launched anytime soon," stated ATSUM.
The students' body also reached out to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, New Delhi, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, complaining against the RIMS authority on the matter.
It demanded that result for appointment of LDC be cancelled immediately and an inquiry against the erring RIMS authority be initiated, including initiation of appropriate action as per the law of the land.
It also apprised the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that the Department of Personnel and Training (DPT), while having convinced that the direct recruitment to Group 'C' & 'D' posts normally attracts candidates from locality or a region, had fixed the reservation quantum of reserved categories on the basis of their population in the respective State/UTs.
As such, the reservation quantum of SC, ST and OBC for the case of Manipur State was fixed at 3 per cent for SC, 34 per cent for ST and 13 per cent for OBC respectively.
The matter was conveyed to the then RIMS director for strict adherence by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (North East Section), and in compliance with the Ministry's letter, the then Deputy Director (Admin) RIMS, with the approval of the authority concerned, issued an order of reservation quantum to be followed in RIMS as 3 per cent for SC, 34 per cent for ST, 13 per cent for OBC and 50 per cent for UR vide Order No.M1/2019-RIMS (49) dated May 21,2022 .
It is also pertinent to mention that this matter was discussed in the joint meeting of the Parlia mentary Committee, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and RIMS authority and accordingly necessary rectification in the reservation quantum was issued by RIMS, the Union reminded.
However, despite the clear instruction of the Ministry concerned and RIMS' compliance order for following the reservation quantum of reserved categories as laid down by centre, the incumbent RIMS director, in collusion with administrative subordinates, manipulated the reservation quantum of SC, ST, and OBC in the recently declared result for the appointment of LDC.
This blatant act of ignoring the quantum of reservation for SC, ST and OBC in case of direct recruitment to Group 'C' & 'D' tantamount to violation of the Indian Constitution and deprivation of the Manipur tribal communities of their legitimate rights, ATSUM stated.
Thus, ATSUM, in its reminder, cautioned the RIMS director to cancel the LDC appointment results at the earliest and uphold the constitutional rights of tribal communities, failing which the student will resort to agitations and any untoward consequences resulting from the same shall be the responsibility of RlMS administration.
It also demanded that appointment process and DPC of other staff be put on hold till reservation of ST, SC, and OBC is streamlined.