Lateral entry into bureaucracy is direct assault on social justice: TN CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Tuesday (August 20) that lateral entry into bureaucracy directly undermines social justice by depriving meritorious and minority officers from reserved categories of their deserved opportunities.

He called upon the Central government to halt this practice, and instead prioritise filling backlog vacancies for OBCs, SC/STs, and ensure fair and equitable promotions.

'Demand abolition of creamy layer'

"We demand the complete abolition of the creamy layer, a concept we have always opposed," the chief minister said in a post on 'X'.

In order to uphold social justice, safeguard reservation and ensure its rightful implementation, the following steps must be taken immediately, he said.

"#LateralEntry is a direct assault on #SocialJustice, depriving the meritorious SC, ST, OBC and minority officers of their deserved opportunities at the top," Stalin said in the post.

'Halt this practice'

"The Union Govt must halt this practice, prioritise filling backlog vacancies for OBCs & SC/STs, and ensure fair and equitable promotions," he added.

He demanded complete abolition of the creamy layer, a concept the DMK opposed, and raising the stagnant ceiling for the creamy layer without further delay.

"Above all, a nationwide #CasteCensus is imperative to guarantee that educational and job opportunities are justly distributed to all backward and oppressed sections of our society, who have been historically denied their rightful share," the chief minister further said.

On Saturday, the Union Public Service Commission issued a notification to recruit 45 joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries through lateral entry. 

(With agency inputs)