The Hynñiewtrep Youths Council (HYC) has submitted a seven-page memorandum to Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang on the roster system.
Of the three points, the HYC starts with a demand to implement the roster system prospectively.
“We would like to see the government implement the roster prospectively and not retrospectively,” the memo stated.
The second point is against any backlog of posts that have lapsed while the third seeks reservation of 80 percent of jobs for Khasis in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
Kharjahrin said the Meghalaya High Court has categorically stated in its recent disposal order that the state government has not included a cut-off date for the implementation of the roster system, leaving it to the legislature to determine such a date.
The HYC would want a cut-off date of May 2022 and pointed out that the Supreme Court had, on several occasions, clearly stated that the roster system should be implemented prospectively only.
Stating that some departments have started talking about filling up the backlog of posts, the pressure group said, “What is necessary to understand is that according to the Meghalaya job reservation policy, if any category of post cannot be filled up, those from another category can be accommodated for adjustment in the next recruitment year.”
“But if that post cannot be filled up in a particular recruitment category, that post will lapse. When it lapses, how can you talk about a backlog?” it added.
“When it comes to the backlog, there should not be any deviation from the policy.”
Referring to the district recruitment agencies in East Khasi and West Khasi Hills where separate rosters are given for the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo communities, Kharjahrin said the government should adhere to the recruitment policy that prescribes 80 percent reservation for the Khasi-Jaintia people in Khasi-Jaintia Hills and the Garos in Garo Hills.
The HYC resented the “huge misunderstanding” between the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo communities on social media and advised the government to step in to end any confusion.
