Respite for UPA as Cabinet clears SC/ST Quota Bill

New Delhi: Cornered by the Opposition particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on coal blocks allocation, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance came with a trump card in the form of a Bill which provides for reservation to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in government job promotions. Even as Parliament failed to function normally for the 10th day on Tuesday as the BJP kept of demanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation over coal blocks allocation, the Union Cabinet cleared the SC/ST Quota in Job Promotions Bill.

Apart from the Samajwadi Party and the Shiv Sena, no other party has opposed the Bill while its supporters include not only the UPA constituents but also the Left Front and the Bahujan Samaj Party, which has been championing the cause for several years. While some BJP leaders have expressed their reservations, the view of the party is not yet clear.

But the move is seen as a masterstroke by the government as the entire focus of will now shift to the SC/ST Quota in Job Promotions Bill, which no party is likely to oppose openly. The government will now introduce a Constitution Amendment Bill SC/ST quota for promotion in jobs either on Wednesday or Thursday in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Even the Samajwadi Party, which has opposed the Bill, called it a diversionary tactic of the government. "The Cabinet's decision is against natural justice. We will continue to oppose this amended Bill. This is a diversionary tactic of the government, to divert attention from the coal scam. This Bill has been cleared to fool the people," said Samajwadi MP Ramgopal Yadav.

While welcoming the Bill, Mayawati sought the support of the National Democratic Alliance support to get its passed in Parliament. "We welcome it. It was our effort. We struggled a lot for this. BSP had first raised it in April in Rajya Sabha and then the government agreed for an all party meeting," said the BSP supremo.

"We are requesting the NDA to vote for this Bill. They should let the House function and help us in passing the Bill in the current session. UPA leaders and ministers should also talk to the Opposition to let the House function for an hour to let the Bill go through. In case it doesn't get through then both the NDA and the UPA are not interested in it," she added.

Meanwhile, the government sounded confident that the Bill would be able to pass the legal hurdle as Attorney General Goolam E Vahanvati had reportedly written to the Law Ministry, pointing out that the proposal is not legally possible. Sources say that Vahanvati had told the Law Ministry that reservation for SCs/ STs in promotions could be struck down by the Supreme Court.

Law Minister Salman Khurshid said that the Bill has been formulated in consultation with the Attorney General and there is widespread political consensus on the Bill.

"At the all-party meet everyone gave their views. There was widespread consensus and agreement and on the basis of that the Department of Personal Training has proceeded and looked at ways of addressing issues based on reservations in promotions of consequential seniority. We have reformulated (the Bill) in consultation with the Attorney General. What we have come up with is a formulation that we believe is the best formulation immune from being struck down by the court of law. But ultimately the court of law must have its say," said Khurshid.

Khurshid also said that the Samajwadi Party's opposition has been taken into account and efforts are being made to persuade it to support the Bill. Samajwadi leaders have reportedly been assured that OBCs will also be extended the facility in the near future.

"We hope that the Samajwadi Party will be on board. It was a unanimous decision. It is not a political googly. It was an honest attempt," said Khurshid.

Congress MP in Rajya Sabha and an OBC leader from Andhra Pradesh V Hanumantha Rao, too, demanded that the backward sections should also be included in the Bill. Rao said that he along with other OBC leaders would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to discuss the matter.

Since the Bill requires amending the Constitution which will need the support of at least two third members present and voting in the House, the UPA will find it impossible to get it passed without the Opposition's support.

The Bill for providing SC/STs quota in promotion in state jobs to be moved for in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.