Lucknow, October 29 — The Uttar Pradesh government has revised its character-verification rules for candidates selected through direct recruitment, declaring that individuals associated with organisations advocating violent change to the existing social system will be considered ineligible for government appointment, news agency IANS reported on Thursday.

Source: IANS via Hi India

The directive was issued by M. Devraj, Principal Secretary of the Appointments Department, and applies to direct recruitment in government departments, corporations, councils and local bodies. According to the order, individuals who are members of organisations whose stated objective is to change the existing social system through violence will be considered unsuitable for government appointments.

Ideology alone is not a bar, the order says

The order carries an explicit safeguard: “Notwithstanding anything contained in the above paragraphs, no person will be considered unsuitable for appointment solely because of their political ideology.” It further specifies that participation in such activities after attaining the age of 21 and within three years preceding the verification will be treated as evidence that the individual remains actively involved, unless concrete evidence demonstrates a change in their tendencies during that period.

Source: Nation Press

The revised policy also clarifies that the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) or a pending investigation will not automatically disqualify a candidate from government employment. Candidates who have been acquitted, cases settled through compromise and matters covered under juvenile justice laws will also not attract automatic disqualification under the guidelines.

Provisional letters, 30-day police reports

The government has clarified that delays in receiving character-verification reports need not necessarily hold up appointment letters. Authorities may issue provisional appointment letters after obtaining the prescribed documents and a self-declaration from candidates. However, if a candidate is subsequently found ineligible during verification or is found to have furnished false information, the appointment will be cancelled immediately and legal action may also be initiated. Police have been directed to submit character-verification reports within 30 days, and employees already serving in government departments are exempted from undergoing character verification afresh, though the appointing authority may seek information from their previous departments.

Opposition criticism amid 'regime change' row

The move comes amid controversy over calls for 'regime change' during a recent protest and has drawn criticism from the Opposition Samajwadi Party and Congress, IANS reported. Power Corridors reported that the Samajwadi Party described the rules as reminiscent of the British colonial era and that Congress questioned the government's authority to determine eligibility; the same report said the guidelines follow directions from the Allahabad High Court. Daily Jagran reported the amendment followed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's warning against an alleged plan to bring about regime change in the country on the lines of Bangladesh. The government has said the revised guidelines seek to streamline character verification while ensuring that pending investigations and procedural delays do not automatically deprive eligible candidates of government employment.

Source: Power Corridors