Their IAS dream in cold bag, fate in limbo

32 candidates who cleared exam in 2005 still jobless

While the result of Civil Services Examination 2010 is all set to be declared next month, the fate of at least 32 Union Public Services Commission (UPSC) recommended candidates from the 2005 examinations is in doldrums as the Supreme Court has reserved its order in the matter for the past eight months.

After getting into the merit list of UPSC in the 2005 Civil Services exams, these candidates selected for Group A and B services have been running from pillar to post to take up their designated positions. While a few of them have already lost hope despite making it into the prestigious services like the Railway Protection Force, Indian Railway Audit Service, Indian Railway Personnel Service, Indian Postal Services, Delhi Andaman and Nicobar Civil Service and Armed Forces Headquarters Service, many have gone back to their hometown for a livelihood and a couple of them are on anti-depressants.

The results of the 2005 civil services Mains examinations were declared on May 8, 2006, and a list of 425 candidates were notified against a vacancy of 457 posts. Thereafter, the second list containing the names of 32 candidates was announced. These successful candidates from the second list were, however, not able to join as a successful candidate from the first list moved the Madras High Court on a technical ground, which had directed the UPSC to redraw the merit list of the 2005 Civil Services examination, ignoring Rule 16 (2) of the Central Civil Services examination and treating reserved candidates selected under merit as unreserved candidates.

The Supreme Court, however, stayed the Madras High Court order. According to the rule 16 (2): “While making service allocation, candidates belonging to SC/ST or OBCs recommended against unreserved candidates may be adjusted against reserved vacancies by the Government if by this process they get a service of higher choice in the order of their preference.” The Centre in its appeal before the Supreme Court reiterated the stand stating: “If the benefit of reservation is denied to an SC/ST/OBC candidate who qualifies on merit, then there can be a situation where a lower-ranked OBC candidate gets allocated to a better service than a higher-ranked OBC candidate only because the higher-ranked candidate performed well enough to qualify in the general/unreserved category.” [..] Read more..

Courtesy: Dailypioneer.com