THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major development, National Scheduled Castes Commission(NSCC) vice-chairman L.Murugan will review the implementation of reservation policy including service safeguards provided to Scheduled Caste employees in the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) here on February 12.
The commission has directed the Union Secretary, Department of Science and Technology to be present at the meeting to be held at SCTIMST at 1 pm.
The Sree Chitra director has been directed to make all arrangements for the same.
The officials' meet will be followed by a grievance meeting with all petitioners and associations which had submitted different petitions regarding denial of justice guaranteed under the Constitution.
Last month, the National ST Commission had directed the institute to suspend selection process for all Group A, Scientific and Technical posts. The direction came in the wake of complaints of non-compliance of reservation norms in the institute.
Those demanding reservations have pointed out that as an institute receiving grants from the Central Government, SCTIMST is bound to follow the reservation policy in all its recruitments, irrespective of the level.
They alleged that the SCTIMST was not following the Centre's reservation policy in the recruitment to Group 'A' posts and vacancies including faculty (doctors, engineers and scientists).
There is a clear violation of reservation rules and denial of fundamental rights to the candidates belonging to SCs, STs, and SEdBCs. SCTIMST has not sought nor has been given any exemption from the reservation policy by competent authority as per Chapter 2.8 of the reservation policy.
SCTIMST sources, however, maintained that the charge of non-compliance of reservation norms was not fair. According to Department of Cabinet Affairs, OM dated 28.12.1961, scientific and technical posts for which qualification in the natural sciences or exact sciences or applied sciences or in technology are prescribed and the incumbents have to use that knowledge in the discharge of their duties, such posts are classified as "scientific or technical" posts.
