Thiruvananthapuram: SC, ST and backward classes minister A.K. Balan on Tuesday announced that the government would implement reservation for second and third streams of Kerala Administrative Service (KAS).
At a press conference here, he said if required the government would amend the existing rules to implement the reservation policy. “There is no need for any apprehensions on this count. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has already given categorical assurance on this,” he said.
Earlier, reservation was only for the first stream direct recruitment for 150 posts.
The denial of quota to second stream involving non-gazetted employees and below and third stream of first gazetted posts and above had created widespread resentment among Dalit, OBC and minority communities.
Various organisations even took to the streets demanding implementation of reservation norms for all streams. The minister’s announcement allayed those apprehensions.
The LDF state leadership had recently cautioned the government that issuing notification without addressing reservation would not be prudent.
The denial would have an adverse impact politically and electorally especially with the Lok Sabha polls just three months away.
Various organisations which supported the government on the Sabarimala issue and joined its "women wall" upholding renaissance values had expressed resentment over the issue.
The absence of quotas in these streams would deny the proportionate representation in civil services which the system of reservation is supposed to ensure, as per the Constitution, they had pointed out.
