Aam Aadmi Party MLA Chaitar Vasava submitted a representation to the Chairman of the Gujarat Subordinate Service Selection Board. He stated that in the recently conducted Revenue Talati recruitment process by the Gujarat Subordinate Service Selection Board, a mandatory minimum of 40 percent marks has been fixed in each paper for tribal (Scheduled Tribe – ST) candidates, which is against constitutional provisions and the reservation policy. Aam Aadmi Party MLA Chaitar Vasava has written a letter and submitted a representation to the Chairman of the Gujarat Subordinate Service Selection Board in this regard. He said that recently a recruitment process was conducted for approximately 2,389 Revenue Talati posts. In this, a mandatory minimum of 40 percent marks was kept for tribal candidates in the Gujarati and English subjects, and 60 marks were made mandatory in a paper of 150 marks. The decision to keep a uniform mandatory minimum of 40 percent marks in each paper violates the provisions related to reservation, including Article 16(4) and Article 335 of the Constitution of India. The same standards cannot be fixed for reserved and unreserved categories, because across the country in recruitment processes, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates are given relaxation in minimum qualifying marks.
MLA Chaitar Vasava further stated in the representation that due to such strict standards, there is a fear that many talented candidates from tribal areas will be excluded from the recruitment process, which is a clear injustice considering their social and educational circumstances. He has demanded that under Revenue Talati Recruitment Advertisement No. 301, the result of Scheduled Tribe candidates be prepared separately from general candidates and that justice be done by providing appropriate relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks in all papers. MLA Chaitar Vasava mentioned that earlier also, in the Gujarat Lokrakshak recruitment process, ST candidates were deprived of their constitutional rights, and it is necessary that this is not repeated. If an appropriate decision is not taken immediately on this serious issue, then the tribal society of the state will be compelled to adopt the judicial route or the path of a statewide peaceful agitation for their rights and justice. MLA Chaitar Vasava stated in the representation that 1. The standard of minimum qualifying marks should be made lenient for tribal candidates, or should be removed altogether, 2. Training and orientation programs should be started so that selected candidates receive adequate guidance before joining service. 3. Reservation does not mean ‘vacant seats’ but ‘equality of opportunity’; this must be understood.
