Mumbai News: NCSC Takes Note Of BMC Worker With PhD Denied Promotion For 17 Years Despite 7 Degrees

Mumbai: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has taken cognisance of The Free Press Journal's June 16 report on municipal worker, Sunil Yadav, who has not received a single promotion in over 17 years of service despite earning seven academic degrees, including a PhD. The NCSC has directed its Pune office to examine Yadav’s case.

Yadav, 43, a motor loader with the Solid Waste Management Department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and a member of the Schedule Caste Mehtar community, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking long-overdue recognition of his qualifications.

His petition says that he joined BMC in 2005 as a safai karmachari - conservancy worker - and was confirmed in 2007. Determined to break free from the cycle of poverty and social exclusion, Yadav said he worked night shifts, from 10 pm to 6 am, while simultaneously pursuing his studies. Over the years, he acquired a B.Com, BA in Journalism, MA in Globalisation and Labour, MSW, MPhil, and PhD from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).

In February 2022, the SWM Assistant Commissioner submitted a proposal recommending Yadav’s promotion to the post of Community Development Officer (CDO), citing his educational merit. However, the file has remained pending without explanation. Around the same time, the BMC issued an advertisement for ten CDO posts but allegedly conducted the recruitment in secrecy, without publicly disclosing selection criteria or the status of applications.

Yadav contends that the delay violates a Government Resolution dated October 1, 2003, which encourages promotions based on academic merit. He also questioned being overlooked for promotion to Labour Officer in 2014 despite meeting all criteria.

Separately, Yadav has raised strong objections to BMC’s recent advertisements for contractual recruitment of manual scavengers. In a letter to the municipal commissioner dated June 12, he pointed out that such appointments violate the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, and Supreme Court orders. He urged the civic body to withdraw the advertisement and prioritise promoting existing workers.

In a heartfelt appeal to his lawyer, Yadav mentioned that he had to pawn his wife’s mangalsutra twice to afford the legal expenses. He also expressed fear that if his case is not listed soon, all his efforts will be in vain.

The BMC has previously informed the High Court that a decision has been taken on his application and sought time to file a reply. The court has asked the civic body to inform it of the decision on the next date of hearing.