CONSTITUTION (EIGHTY-FIFTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 2001
Preamble 1 - CONSTITUTION (EIGHTY-FIFTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 2001
THE CONSTITUTION (EIGHTY-FIFTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 2001
[4thJanuary, 2002]
PREAMBLE:
An
ACT further to amend the Constitution of India.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-second
Year of the Republic of India as follows: --
Section 1 - Short title and commencement
1.
This
Act may be called the Constitution (Eighty-fifth Amendment) Act, 2001.
2.
It
shall be deemed to have come into force on the 17th day of June, 1995.
Section 2 - Amendment of article 16
In article 16 of
the Constitution, in clause (4A), for the words "in matters of promotion
to any class", the words "in matters of promotion, with consequential
seniority, to any class" shall be substituted.
Statement of Objects and Reasons -
CONSTITUTION (EIGHTY-FIFTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 2001
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
1.
The
Government servants belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes
had been enjoying the benefit of consequential seniority on their promotion on
the basis of rule of reservation. The judgments of the Supreme Court in the
case of Virpal Singh Chauhan (1995) 6 SCC 684 and Ajit Singh No. 1 AIR 1996 SC
1189, which led to the issue of the O.M. dated 30th January, 1997, have
adversely affected the interest of the Government servants belonging to the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes category in the matter of seniority on
promotion to the next higher grade. This has led to considerable anxiety and
representations have also been received from various quarters including Members
of Parliament to protect the interest of the Government servants belonging to
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
2.
The
Government has reviewed the position in the light of views received from
various quarters and in order to protect the interest of the Government
servants belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, it has been
decided to negate the effect of O.M. dated 30th January, 1997 immediately. Mere
withdrawal of the O.M. dated 30th January, 1997 will not meet the desired
purpose and review or revision of seniority of the Government servants and
grant of consequential benefits to such Government servants will also be
necessary. This will require amendment to article 16(4A) of the Constitution to
provide for consequential seniority in the case of promotion by virtue of rule
of reservation. It is also necessary to give retrospective effect to the
proposed constitutional amendment to article 16(4A) with effect from the date
of coming into force of article 16(4A) itself, that is, from the 17th day of
June, 1995.
3.
The
Bill seeks to achieve the aforesaid objects.