Madhya Pradesh: Staff Unions Divided Over Promotion Decision In State Cabinet’s Meeting

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Various employee organisations have expressed mixed reactions to the state cabinet’s decision allowing promotions for government employees.

While some have welcomed the move, others have raised concern, claiming that underlying issues regarding reservation in promotions remain unresolved.

SAPAKS president Heeralal Trivedi (Retired IAS) told Free Press that while the decision to resume promotions is a welcome step, it still does not address the concern of General and Backward Class employees.

“As per the current formula, promotions will be first offered to SC/ST employees. Presently, over 67% of posts are already occupied by SC/ST employees. This means the promotion process for General and OBC employees will continue to be delayed,” he said. Trivedi said that he would thoroughly examine promotion rules and, if necessary, approach the court for redressal.

Engineer Sudhir Nayak, president of Mantralaya Sewa Adhikari Karamchari Sangh, said the major contention was that candidates from reserved categories were also being selected under the unreserved category, effectively resulting in near 100% reservation in higher-level posts. “In the Mantralaya, out of 65 under secretary posts, 58 are occupied by reserved category employees.

This imbalance prompted many to approach courts, leading to a nine-year freeze on promotions,” Nayak said. He said that the new rules fail to resolve this core issue and warned that it may once again lead to thousands of legal petitions. He advocated for vertical reservation as a more appropriate solution.

Ghanshyam Bhakoria, president of the Mantralaya branch of Madhya Pradesh Anusuchit Jati Janjati Adhikari Karamchari Sangh (AJJAKS), welcomed the state government's move, stating that it has safeguarded interests of SC/ST as well as General category employees.

“The resumption of promotions will also create vacancies for direct recruitment, providing wider opportunities. The General category will also benefit significantly,” he said.

Umashankar Tiwari, general secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Class III Employees Association, also welcomed the decision but questioned the delay. “The issue of reservation in promotion is still pending in the Supreme Court, and little has changed in the past nine years. If the same decision was to be taken, why did employees have to suffer for so long?” he asked. Tiwari said that the issue is still unresolved and needs further clarity.