CHAPTER,S
PROCEDURE FOR FILLING. RESERVED VACANCIES IN
RECRUITMENT THROUGH UPSC OR BY ADVERTISEMENT
I
The following procedure should be followed while sending requisitions to the UPSC or
issuing of advertisements for filling the reservedvac~ncies (in postsfiUedthrough a,dvertise-
men,t as the primary source of recruitment) :~ ,
MHA O.M. No. 8.1 Advertisement of reserved vacan'Cies for posts fined by direct recruitment
1/lno Estt (scn otherwise than through examination:
dated 31-7-70.
(a) First advertisement:'
Where direct recruitment (otherwise tha'n through examination) is to be made to a
vacancy or vacancies reServed (or Sch'eduled Castes orScheduled Tribes only (and not to any
unreserved vacancy/vacancies as, wett), advertisement on the first occas~on win be issued
inviting applichtions only from tne candidates belonging to 'the Scheduled Castes, an,d/or the
Scheduled Tribes, as the case may be, and not from general candidates.
, , .
(b) Second Advertisement:
If, after advertisement as in sub-para (a) above, the required number of Scheduled
Caste or Scheduled Tribe candidates are not sel~cted for the reserved vacancy or vacancies
the remaining reserved vacancy/vacal\~ies 'X!l1..}t)ereadvertised but, on this occasion general
candidates would also be eligible to apply. The general candidates would, however, be con-
sidered only if no suitable Scheduled CastesorS,cheduled Tribe candidates, as the case may
be, are still available for appointment to the vacancies reserved for them. This may be
clarified in the advertisement.' ,
(c) Advertisement where, recruitment is to be made for bath reserved and unreserved
vacancies:
If direct recruitment otherwise than through examination is to be made for reserved as
well as unreserved vacancies on any one occasion, a single advertisement can be issued for
such reserved and unreserved vacancies specifying Clearly therein the vacancies reserved for
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. If any reserved vacancies remain unfilled for want of
suitable Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes candidates, they should not be filled by general
candidates, ,on this occasion but' should be'readvertised and .filled on the lines indicated in
sun-para (6) above. . '
(d) Ad-hoc appointment of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes candidates:
If it becomes necessary to fill a reserved Vacancy pending selection according to the
procedure outlined in sub-paras (a), (b) or (c) above, the appointing authority may make ad-
hoc appointrpent qf suitable Scheduled <;aste pr;Scheduled Tribe candidates, as the case may
be, against such reserved vacancy. In the case of posts recruitment to which is made through
the Union Public Service Commission, the ad-hoc appointment of Scheduled Castes/
Scheduled Tribes candidates will be subject to Regulation 4(1) of the Union Public Service
Commission (Exemption from Consultation) Regulations.
8.2 Advertisement of reserved vacancies for posts filled by direct recruitment tbrough
examination.
Where direct re~ruitment 'is made through examination, for resenfed as well as unreser-
ved vacancies, a single advertisement would be issued for such examination but the number
of the vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes would be specified
clearly in it and inca'sethe required number of Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes can-
didates are not available even by applying relaxed standards for the vacancy/vacancies reser-
ved for them, the remaining vacancy/vacancies could be filled by general candidates after
dereservationof such; vacancy/vacancies, ,subject to the reservations being carried
forward as required.
8.3 Exchange of vacancies between Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes .
.
If a reserved vacancy or vacancies referred to in,paras 8.1 and 8.2 include any vacancy/
vacancies wllich have been carried forward to the third year of carry forward excluding the
year of origInal reservation andthe year or years in which no vacancy arises), applications
should be invited both from Scheduled Castes 'arid Scheduled Tribes candidates but it should
be clarifi~d in the advertisement thatIor a vacancy or vcancies reserved for Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes candidates would be 'consider~d only in the event o'f non-availability of suit-
able Scheduled Caste candidates and similarly in respect of a vacancy or vacancies reserved
for Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes candidates, would be considered only in the event of
non-availability of suitable Scheduled Tribe candidates.
8.4 Separate interview of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates.
In direct recruitment made in accordance with th~ procedure ,in para 8.1 above and in
recruitment made through examination (vide para 8.2 above) followed by an interview, the
interview, of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes candidates should be held on a day or sit-
ting of the Selection Committee other than the day or sitting on which general candidates are
to be interviewed so that the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. candidates are not
judged in comparison with general candidates and the interviewing authority/Board is/are
prominently aware of the need for judging the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes candidates
by relaxed standards.
8.5 Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes candidates selected on their own merit without
relaxed standards.
36012113/88-Est In cases of direct ~~cruitment to vacancy in posts under the Central Govt.
(SeT) the SC and ST candidates who are selected on their own merit without relaxed
dt. 22-5-89
standards along with candidates belonging to the other communities, will not be adjusted
against the reserved share of -vacancies.
O.M. No. 1/1/70-Estt.(SCT) 31-7-70.
36012/13/88/Estt (SCT) 22-5-89.
36012/6/88 Estt;(SCT) 6-9-89.
Ministry of Home Affairs O.M. No. 1l1/[Link].(SCT)
dated 31st July, 1970 'to' all Ministries etc. '
Subject :-Procedure for selectitm of Schedued Castes/[Link] candidates against vacancies
reserved for them-Issue of advertisements and holding of separate interviews.
The undersigned iS'directed to refer to this Ministry's O.M. No. 31/10/63-SCT(I), dated 27th March, 1963
and No. 1/6/67..Estt.(C), dated 20th September, 1967 laying' dowrt inter-alia the procedure fordereservation of
reserVed vacancies in the event of suitable candidates belongibg to· Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
being not available even after applying the relaxed standardo'f ~uitability in their cases. When any such vacan-
cies are dereserved and filled by generalcandidate~; the reserVations are carried forWard to subsequent three rec-
ruitment years vide para 2 of this Ministry's O.M. No. 27/25/68-Estt.(SCT) dated 25th Match, 1970. As in some
services/posts, Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes candidates ,could not be selected for all the vacancies reserved
for them, the question of taking further steps in order to 'accelerate the induction of Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes in such vacancie's has b~en considered by the Government and it has been decided to adopt
the following measures in this connection:--
1. (a) Advertisement of reserved vacllIldes (fiUed by direct recruitment otherwise than through examination) for
Scheduled Castes/Scheduled: Tribes candidates only:
Where direct recruitment (otherwise than througJi examination) is to be made to a vacancy or vacancies
reserved for Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes only, (and not to be any unreserved vacancy/vacancies as
well) advertisement will be, issued inviting applications only from the candidates belonging to the Scheduled
Castes, and/or the Scheduled Tribes, as the case may be, and not from general candidates. However, if the reser-
ved vacancy or vacancies referred to above include any such vacancy or vacancies which have been carried for-
ward to the third year of recruitmen~Sc:[Link]<r Caste 'candidates can be 'considered for such of the vacancies as
are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and vice-versa vide para 3 of this Ministry's O.M. No. 27/25/68-Estt(SCT) dated
25th March, 1970. Accordingly, in the advertisement issued for filling in those reserved vacancies which have
been carried forward to the third yearofrecruitment. applications should be invited both from Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes candidllte~ •.but it should be clarif\Cd in the advertisement that for a vacancy reserved for
Scheduled Castes. Scheduled Tribes candidates would~.considered only in the event of non-availability of suit-
able Scheduled Caste candidates and similarly, in respect of a vacancy or vacancies reserved for Scheduled
Tribes, Scheduled Castes candidates would be considered only in the event of non-availability of suitable
Scheduled Tnoes; candidates. '
(b) Readvertisement for filling reserved [Link]:
If, after following the procedure outlined in sub-para (a) above, the required number of Scheduled Caste
or Scheduled Tribe candidates are not selected for the reserved vacancy or vacancies, the remaining reserved
vacancy/vacancies will be readvertised but. on this occasion, ,general candidates would also be eligible to apply.
The general candidates would however, be considered only if no suitable Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe
candidates, as the case may be, are still available for appointment to the vacancies reserved for them. This may
be clarified in the advertisement In case any general candidate is thus appointed against a reserved vacancy
after its dereservation the reservation should be carried forward according to the instructions in this
regard.
(c) Advertisement where recruitment is to be made both for reserved and unreserved vacancies:
~ If direct recruitment otherwise than through examination is to be made for reserved as well se unreserved
vacancies on anyone occasion, a single advertisement can be issued for such reserved and unreserved vacancies
specifying clearly therein the vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. If the reserved
vacancy or vacancies, referred to above include any vacancy/vacancies which have been carried forward to the
third year of recruitment. it should also be clarified in the advertisement that Scheduled Tribe candidates would
be considered for vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes in the event of non-availability of suitable Scheduled
Castes candidates and vice-versa on the lines indicated in sub-para (a) above. If any reserved vacancies remain
unfilled for want of suitable Scheduled Castes/SchedulediTribes candidates, they should not be. filled by general
candidates on this occasion but should bereadvertised and f~d on the lines indicated in sub-para (b)
~~. "
(d) Direct recrunmentthrough examinatiOlt-:
Where direct rec~itmeni is made through examinati~n, for reserved as well as unreserved vacancies,
single advertise\Ilent would be issued for such examination, but the number of vacancies reserved for Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tripes would,be specified clearly in it and in case the required number of Scheduled Cas-
tes or. Scheduled, Tribes' candidates are not available even by applying relaxed standards for the vacancy/
vacancies reserved forJhe~ the remaining reserVed vacancy/vac~ncies could befilted by general candidates
after dereservation of such vacancy/vacancies. Jhe vacancy/vacancies so deserved will be carried forward
according to the instructions in this regard. ...
(e) 'Separate interview of Scheduled Cutes 8tld Scheduled 'Dibes candidates:
(i) When direct recrnitment otherwise than through examination is to be made in accordance with the
procedure in sub-para (b) or (c) above, the interview of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes candidates sl10uld be
held on a day or sitting of the Selection Committee other than the day or sitting on which general candidates are
to be interviewed so that Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates are not judged in comparison with
general candidates and the Interviewing AuthoritylBoard is/are prominently, aware of the need for judging the
Scheduled Castes/Scheduled
. ~ Tribes candidates by rel~ed standards.
;
(ii) In direct recruitment made through examinations along with interview also the interview of
Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes candidates should be held on a separate day or sitting on the lines indicated
in sub-para (i) above.
(t) Ad-hoc appointment of Scheduled
I '
Castes/Scheduled
' '
Tribes' ~didates:
'.
If'it becomes necessary to fill a reserved vacancy pending selection according to the procedure outlined in
sub-para (a), (b) or (c) above, the appointing autHority may make ad-hoc appointment of suitable Scheduled
Caste or Scheduled Tribe candidate, as the case may be, against such reserved vacancy. In the case of posts rec-
ruitment to which is made through the Union Public Service Commission, the [Link] appointment ot Scheduled
Castes/Scheduled Tribes candidates will be subject to Regulation 4(1)'ohhe Union Public Service Commission
(Exemption from Consultation) Regulations. '!
3. Ministry of Finance etc. are requested to bring the above instructions to the notice of all appointing
authorities under them including public sector undertakings and statutory, semi-Government and
autonomous bodies.
Department of Personnel & Training No. 36012!13/88·Estt (SeT)
dated the 22nd May, ;989 to all Ministriei/Departments of the Govt. of India
Subject :-Measures to increase SC/ST representation in the services ;,mder the Government through
direct recruitment.
As part of measures to increase the representation of SC/ST in the services under the Central Govern-
ment, the Government have reviewed the procedure for implementing the policy of reservation while filling up
reserved share of vacancies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by direct recruitment. The practice pre-
sendybeing followed is to adjust SC/ST candidates selected for direct recruitment without relaxation of stan-
dardsagainst the reserved share of vacancies. The position of such SC and ST candidates in the final select list,
however, was determined by their relative merit as assigned to them in the selection process. When sufficient
number of suitable Scheduled Castes and/or Scheduled Tribe candidates were not available to fill up aU the
reserved share of vacancies, SC/ST candidates were selected by relaxed standards.
2 It has now been decided that in cases of direct recruitme"nt to vacancies in posts under the Central
Government the SC and ST candidates who 'are selected on their own merit without relaxed standards along
with candidates belonging to the other communities, will not be adjusted against the reserved share of vacancies.
The reserved vacancies will be filled up separately from amongst the eligible SC and ST candidates which will
thus comprise SC and ST candidates who are lower in merit than the last candidate on the merit list but other-
wise found suitable for appointment even by relaxed standards, if necessary.
'3. All Ministries!Departments will immediately review the various Recruitment RuleslExaminations
Rules to ensure that if any provisions contrary to the decision contained in previous paragraph exist in such
Rules, they are immediately suitably modified or deleted.
4. These instructions shall take immediate effect in respect of direct recruitments made hereafter. These
will also apply to selections where though the recruitment process has started, the results have not yet been
announced unless in the examinationlRecruitment rules or in the advertisement notified earlier there is a
specific provision to the contrary and the manner in which the SC/ST vacancies could be filled has
been indicated.
Department of Personnel & Training O.M. No. 36011/6/88-Estt. (SeT), SRD
dated 6-9-89.
The undersigned is directed to say that it has been brought to the notice of the Department of Personnel
& Training that in the advertisements issued by some organisations inviting applications for appointment to
vacancies in various grades, including vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, there is no
mention of relaxation in the upper age limit and the admissibility of relaxation in experience against the reser-
ved posts. Often the number of vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are also not
indicated. It is only mentioned that there will be reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes as per rules.
2. The omissions of the type referred to above adversely affect the efficacy of the effort,made to recruit
candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes against reserved vacancies and may result in
the reserved '\Tacancies remaining unfilled. It is, therefore, requested that instructions may kindly be issued to all
the recruiting authorities to ensure that such omissions are not allowed to occur.