Narendran report approved with changes

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MAY 24. The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the recommendations of the Justice Narendran Commission and guidelines stipulated for identifying the creamy layer among the Backward Classes in the State with certain modifications.

The recommendations and the modifications have the effect of increasing the number of persons who will be eligible for reservation as per the existing norms.

The Chief Minister, Mr. E. K. Nayanar, and the Law Minister, Mr. E. Chandrasekharan Nair, told presspersons after a Cabinet meeting that the report as modified by the Government would apply to all posts for which selection has not been completed (besides posts arising in future). About three lakh applicants before the PSC who have not received advice memos would benefit.

The guidelines would apply only to recruitment to Government services, public sector undertakings and other institutions to which the principle of reservation applies. (The original recommendation covers all posts where the salary is paid from the Consolidated Fund of the State).

The Cabinet decided that there need be no restriction, as proposed by the Commission that members of the Backward Classes with hereditary occupations such as blacksmiths and goldsmiths should be actually engaged in such occupations for exclusion from the creamy layer. In other words, the decision already taken by the Government on the recommendations of the Joseph Committee in this regard will remain.

Further, to the group of persons with hereditary occupations identified by the Joseph Committee and accepted by the Government, Kudumbis will be added.

With regard to property owners, the recommendations of the Joseph Committee will be adopted with the modifications that the ceiling limit will be five hectares in respect of both farm holdings and plantations.

The gross income for exclusion of wealthy members of Backward Classes as creamy layer is fixed as Rs. 3 lakhs or above. Income from salary or farm holdings would not be taken into account. The scheme of criteria for exclusion as creamy layer of various categories of employees would be the status and not the gross annual income. Sons and daughters of persons currently holding constitutional posts and Group A or Class I officers of All India Services would be considered as belonging to the creamy layer. However, this rule of exclusion would not apply if the parent or parents who are Class I officers die or suffer permanent incapacitation.

There are detailed guidelines with respect to Group B or Class II officers. Generally, their sons and daughters would not get the benefit of reservation if both the parents are Class II officers or one of them had become a Class II officer before the age of 35. These provisions are subject to certain exemptions related with death and incapacitation of parents.

On the ground of educational backwardness, all Backward Classes who have not successfully completed lower primary education are excluded from the creamy layer. Class III and Class IV employees are also excluded if they do not have income above Rs. 3 lakhs from other sources.

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