RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Dec.20: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday headed a delegation to Governor Ramesh Bais to press for his early consent to twin bills — notifying 1932 as the cut-off-year for state domicile and 27 percent reservation to OBCs — so that his government persuade the Centre to include the twin bills in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
He later on spoke to the media outside the Raj Bhavan. Reacting over the recent judgment of the Jharkhand High Court rejecting the state employment policy framed by his government, Hemant Soren said that a gang was active in Jharkhand which doesn’t want moolvasis (natives) and tribals of Jharkhand get the job.
“A few days back the High court scrapped the state employment policy and this has not happened for the first time in Jharkhand. On previous occasions also the policy was scrapped. This is very unfortunate that youth of the state are not able to get jobs in third and fourth grade. The policy framed by us was meant to safeguard the interest moolvasis and tribals of the state,” Hemant Soren said while talking to the media.
He said that while framing the policy — now stand scrapped—he had apprehension. Hence, in the light of previous examples his government has proceeded further.
“But there is a certain power which tries to weaken the rights of moolvasis and tribals. You will be surprised to know that out of 20 petitioners who challenged the state employment policy, except one 19 of them belong to other states. This is unfortunate that people of other states have the problem with the employment policy of Jharkhand,” he said.
He said that in light of these facts, last month, his government brought a local residence and employment policy along with the 27 percent reservation to the OBCs.
Both the bills are waiting for the consent of the Governor. He said that in the bills the government has requested in writing to the centre to include both the bills in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution so that these remain immune to any judicial scrutiny.
“The purpose of our visit was to request the Governor to grant his consent early so that we press the central government also,” he said.
The Chief Minister countered that the employment policy scrapped by the Jharkhand High Court even violated Article 17 of the Constitution.
“We had not violated the Constitution while framing the employment policy. There are several states having a policy like this. But a gang is active which doesn’t want moolvasis and tribals to get the job,” he said.
He lamented that the High Court judgment has affected as many as seven lakh students who had applied for different jobs. “But we are looking for alternatives and we are sympathetic towards students,” he assured.
The delegation was joined by the ministers and MLAs of the UPA ruling alliance which met the Governor around 3.30pm.
However, Hemant Soren had urged the BJP opposition to be the part of the delegation. He said that the House cutting across the party line should show solidarity in a matter like this related to the larger interest of Jharkhand and its people.
The BJP maintained distance. However, the AJSU Party legislator Lambodar Mahto was spotted among the members of the delegation
The UPA government knocked the door of the Governor after the BJP opposition during the ongoing winter session of the state assembly staged demonstrations inside and outside the house against failure of the government in formulating a constitutionally valid recruitment policy.
