India News

Nitish gives reservations a make-over, Bihar to extend quota on outsourced services

Published

9 years ago

November 6, 2017

Nitish gives reservations a make-over, Bihar to extend quota on outsourced services

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Bihar CM tweaks reservation rules; quota system to apply if government hires somebody for its work through outsourcing company and pays salary from its coffers

In a bid that could help his party, the Janata Dal (United) consolidate its vote-bank among the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes and disabled people, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has decided to give a make-over to the prevailing reservation system, at least in his state.

Days after his government decided to tweak the Bihar Reservation Act 2003 to extend reservations even in the private sector by asserting that if any government department outsources its work to a private company, the state’s 50 per cent reservation policy would apply to the said project, Kumar, on Monday, laid out the rationale for the move.

While the decision to extend quota benefits even to outsourced government projects had attracted criticism from private companies, industry bodies, sections of the Opposition and even leaders from his own JD (D)-BJP coalition government, Kumar insisted that those opposed to the move have “very little understanding” of the issue.

Kumar insisted that the new quota rules, which some ruling alliance leaders have also found fault with, were brought in accordance with the Bihar Reservation Act 2003.

The Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said that the Bihar Reservation Act proposes that it the state government hires somebody (a private player) for its work – even if through an outsourcing company – and pays salary from the Treasury’s coffers, then the quota system prevailing in the state will apply to such a project.

“If we (the government) award a contract to somebody for undertaking a work, then the contractor will not be bound by quota policy since he will be hiring and he will be paying,” Kumar clarified while adding: “in case of outsourced services availed of by the government, the reservation rules will be obviously different and will be applied as per the reservation Act.”

“People who are raising a hue and cry over the issue have very little understanding,” Kumar said.

The chief minister added: “If you’re using government money and giving employment, then you have to follow the Reservation Act of the state… Although I am opposed to outsourcing, and favour that a department should hire directly, we have made rules which ensure that if we are employing someone through outsourcing, then reservation policies should be followed.”

Raising an issue which is likely to rile India Inc., Kumar said he also wanted the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre to “initiate a debate on introducing 50 per cent reservation in the private sector.”[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]In a comment that his ally, the BJP, is not likely to be happy about, Kumar also extended his support for the demand made by the Patidars/Patels of Gujarat for reservations in government jobs and educational institutions. The reservation demand by Patidars and the face of their agitation, Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti chief Hardik Patel, has pushed the BJP in poll-bound Gujarat in a tight spot, with the Congress now aggressively wooing the influential community in the western state to vote for it, instead of endorsing the saffron party.

Former Speaker of the Bihar Assembly and senior JD (U) leader Uday Narayan Choudhary has spoken against Kumar’s decision to tweak the reservation rules along with senior BJP leader from the state, CP Thakur, who claimed that the new rules may lead to public resentment and a drop in investment in the state.

Kumar, however, seemed adamant on seeing his government’s new reservation rules being implemented and said that “this is not the first experiment of its kind that we have undertaken in Bihar,” while insisting that there was a precedent that he was following. “In 2006, the state government recruited a large number of ex-army personnel (in Special Auxiliary Police force) to make up for the shortfall of policemen in the state… reservation was in place in their case also,” Kumar said.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Up Next

Paradise Papers leak on money in tax havens before Indian govt celebrates Anti-Black Money Day

Don't Miss

Syria is fighting war against Wahabism, says Ambassador

India News

LPU students protest over reported rape allegation, police call it rumour

Students at Lovely Professional University protested over a reported rape allegation involving a worker, with police describing the claim as a rumour.

Published

10 hours ago

September 27, 2026

APNLive Desk

Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab staged a protest after an allegation involving the reported rape of a student by a worker at the university surfaced.

The protest led to disruption around the university, with students taking to the streets and blocking the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, according to the report.

The allegation triggered anger among students, who demanded action over the reported incident.

Police describe rape claim as rumour

Police, however, described the rape claim as a rumour, indicating that the allegation had not been established as a confirmed incident.

The distinction is important because the reported sexual assault allegation should not be treated as a confirmed rape unless investigators or other authoritative sources establish that fact.

The protests nevertheless continued as students sought clarity and action over the issue.

Protest disrupts traffic

The student demonstration also affected traffic on the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway. The protest brought attention to the allegations and the concerns being raised by students at the university.

With police calling the claim a rumour, further verification and investigation would be necessary to establish what actually happened.

India News

INDIA bloc likely to meet on September 30 over Gyanesh Kumar row

INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 amid growing opposition to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Published

22 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

Opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc are set to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns surrounding the Election Commission, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a proposed removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The proposed meeting comes amid growing coordination among opposition parties over the functioning of the poll panel and demands for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The parties are also discussing a possible joint response to the developments.

Why is the INDIA bloc meeting being planned?

The INDIA bloc meeting on September 30 comes amid reports of objections within the Election Commission over certain decisions and orders related to the SIR exercise.

According to the report, Opposition leaders have been discussing a coordinated response to their concerns over the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision process.

The issue is also expected to be discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29, a day before the proposed INDIA bloc meeting.

Gyanesh Kumar removal demand in focus

The demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has become a major point of contention between the Opposition and the Election Commission.

The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded Kumar’s removal and an immediate halt to the SIR exercise. Congress has also intensified its criticism of the CEC.

Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal motion against Gyanesh Kumar. The September 30 meeting is expected to finalise the strategy for the motion, including the collection of signatures. According to the report, this would be the Opposition’s third such attempt.

What is the SIR controversy?

The political dispute is linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, or SIR.

The controversy intensified following a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several occasions concerning decisions and orders related to the SIR process.

The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are part of normal deliberations in a multi-member constitutional body. The poll panel has also maintained that its orders have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures, while stating that the final decisions on the SIR were taken unanimously.

TMC and Left parties coordinate over the issue

The developments have also brought the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) together on the Election Commission issue, despite their political differences in West Bengal.

CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby proposed an immediate meeting to discuss a joint strategy. According to the report, Mamata Banerjee spoke with M A Baby and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, after which the leaders settled on September 30 for the meeting.

What could be discussed at the September 30 meeting?

The proposed meeting is expected to focus on:

Concerns surrounding the Election Commission
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
Opposition demands concerning CEC Gyanesh Kumar
A possible fresh removal notice against the CEC
A coordinated response by INDIA bloc parties

The exact agenda and participation will depend on the discussions among the opposition parties before the proposed meeting.

India News

“Will die but won’t give up”: Sahil Wakode’s parents urge IIT students to continue fight

Sahil Wakode’s parents have appealed to IIT Bombay students to continue their fight for justice amid the ongoing investigation into their son’s death.

Published

23 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode have appealed to students to continue raising their voices and fighting for justice following their son’s death.

Sahil Wakode, a second-year student at IIT Bombay, died in his hostel room on September 18. His death has led to student protests and an ongoing investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch.

What Sahil Wakode’s parents have alleged

Sahil’s parents have alleged that their son faced caste-based discrimination and harassment at IIT Bombay before his death. They have sought action against those they hold responsible and have demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The family has also called for a CBI inquiry and has sought the arrest of officials named in the case. These remain allegations and are part of the ongoing investigation.

The Mumbai Crime Branch took over the probe after an FIR was registered following the complaint by Sahil’s parents.

IIT Bombay’s position

IIT Bombay has said that Sahil was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination and had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.

The institute has maintained that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him. It said the matter had been discussed with him by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

The circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death are being investigated by the appropriate authorities.

Investigation continues

The case remains under investigation, with the Mumbai Crime Branch examining the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death and the allegations made by his family.

His parents have continued to demand justice and action against those they believe were responsible, while the investigation is expected to establish the facts surrounding the case.