What Is Reservation Roster?

A reservation roster is a method of earmarking posts for different categories. This ensures that SC, ST and OBC categories get a near-perfect distribution of their constitutionally mandated proportion of seats. It also helps in tracking the recruitment process.

There is a controversy in Meghalaya over the state’s reservation policy and roster system implementation. Read on to find out more about this controversial issue.

It is a system of affirmative action

Reservation roster is a system that aims to give disadvantaged groups representation in education, government jobs and other services. It has helped some people from these groups overcome adversity to achieve higher positions. It also encourages people to fight for justice when they find that their rights are being violated.

The problem with this is that it can take a long time for reserved categories to get their turn. For example, if there are five employees in a department, the first reserved employee will have to wait until the second position is available. This is called the ‘L’ shaped roster, and it can be very frustrating for reserve categories.

The issue of reservation has been a hot topic in Meghalaya, with political parties and pressure groups from both Khasi-Jaintia and Garo Hills engaged in a war of words over the policy. The controversy has been caused by the state’s controversial implementation of the reservation policy and the roster system.

It is a system of backward class representation

The commission has rejected the demand by some backward class organisations that jobs should be reserved proportionally to their population. It says that following a policy that ensures “a minimum level” of representation in government services and encourages backward classes to increase their share in open merit competition is showing encouraging results.

The system works by dividing the total number of posts into two sets: one for general and one for reserved categories. The reserved category posts are filled first, then the general posts. The remaining vacancies are then allocated to the corresponding category, which is based on the shaded areas of the roster.

The commission argues that it is not necessary to reserve more than 50 seats for backward classes because “adequate representation” in public services is an essential component of democracy. Moreover, the constitution provides for reservation until the factors that cause social backwardness are removed. The members of the constituent assembly agreed that this would not happen overnight, and hence, the provision was made time-bound.

It is a system of quotas

The reservation system is a way to ensure that backward class groups are represented in various fields, such as education, employment, government schemes, scholarships and politics. It also ensures that disadvantaged groups can benefit from economic development. It has been used in many countries around the world, including India, to address discrimination against disadvantaged groups.

The problem with this scheme is that it can be difficult to keep track of the number of vacancies, as they are not always notified to the concerned department. As a result, the reserved categories can sometimes miss out on jobs that they are entitled to.

Senior advocate VGK Kynta said that the state government cannot implement the reservation roster retrospectively. He said that the Supreme Court has made it clear that any policy can’t be retrospective. He added that it is important to treat each department as a unit rather than just one particular department. Hence, the 200-point roster is better.

It is a system of vacancies

The reservation roster is a system that ensures that the state’s reservation policy is followed in letter and spirit. The system allows for the identification of reserved vacancies and the allocation of those vacancies to eligible candidates. It also helps prevent the misuse of quotas and ensures that reservations are implemented fairly.

The current roster system includes two types: the 200-point roster and the 13-point roster. The 200-point roster is used in departments with more than 14 employees. The 13-point roster is used for departments with 13 or fewer employees.

However, there are certain issues with the roster system. In particular, the guidelines for preparation of the roster do not clearly mention that the earmarking is retrospective in nature. Moreover, the office memorandum does not specify any statute which authorises it to have a retrospective effect. This has sparked controversy among political parties, leaders, and pressure groups from both Khasi-Jaintia and Garo Hills.

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