Reservation in promotion: No need to collect quantifiable data on backwardness says SC

New Delhi, Sep 26: The Supreme Court has aid that the states need not collect quantifiable data on backwardness of SC and ST employees before giving reservation in promotion to them.

The court also held that the judgment in the Nagraj case, which dealt with reservation in promotion need not be referred to a seven judge Bench. Under challenge was the 2006 Nagraj verdict which was pronounced by a 5 judge Bench.

A Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra passed the orders after the Centre's push to provide accelerated promotion with consequential seniority for Schedule Castes/Schedule Tribes members in public employment.

Due to the 2006 verdict in the Nagraj case, the government was unable to introduce quota in promotion for its SC/ST employees unless they proved that the particular Dalit community is backward, inadequately represented and such reservation in promotion would not affect the overall efficiency of public administration.

The Nagraj verdict was pronounced by a five judge Bench. The government had sought that the matter be referred to a larger Bench for re-examination. The Centre said that the 2006 verdict had effectively created an impossible situation for providing accelerated promotions with consequential seniority for SC/ST members in government services.

Attorney General of India, K K Venugopal had said SC/ST communities have faced deprivation for centuries at the hands of society. He also said that they were denied access to several places such as schools, temples etc.

The government said that it wanted a total of 22.5 per cent posts reserved for promotion for SC/STs in public employment. Only this would satisfy their need for adequate representation, the government further stated. While seeking a reversal of the 2006, the Centre said that each and condition laid down in the Nagraj verdict could not be complied with.