‘For it to be prominently highlighted appears like ethical policing,’ says a serving bureaucrat.
A notification by the Division of Science and Expertise, prescribing the recruitment methodology and choice standards for appointing a ‘Mission Director’ for one in every of its programmes highlights a disqualification clause on marital grounds very prominently and even earlier than itemizing out the precise eligibility standards. The stated clause highlights governmental disapproval of bigamy.
The paragraph within the notification reads:
“No particular person, –
(a) who, has entered into or contracted a wedding with an individual having a partner residing; or
(b) who, having a partner residing, has entered into or contracted a wedding with any particular person, shall be eligible for appointment to the stated put up:
Offered that the Central Authorities could, if happy that such marriage is permissible below the non-public regulation relevant to such particular person and the opposite get together to the wedding and that there are different grounds for thus doing, exempt any particular person from the operation of this rule.”
The clause isn’t uncommon in itself and is a part of the Central Civil Companies (Conduct) Guidelines that applies to all authorities staff since 1964. Nonetheless, it’s by no means explicitly talked about in authorities recruitment notices or notifications.
“For it to be prominently highlighted appears like ethical policing,” a serving bureaucrat of over 20 years informed The Hindu on situation of anonymity, “There are a number of such clauses that are implicit, like being a citizen of India [to apply for a post] or not having legal instances however I’ve by no means seen it explicitly cited in any authorities recruitment discover.”
Different conduct guidelines embody strictures in opposition to authorities servants from consuming “intoxicating drink or drug” in public locations or utilizing their affect to safe jobs for family in corporations or companies.
Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST, didn’t clarify why this clause was highlighted however stated officers from the division informed him it was a “normal clause adopted by all departments of presidency.”
The November 10 DST discover was uploaded on the federal government’s web site that lists necessary notifications and orders from numerous departments. The put up in query is that of Mission Director, Nationwide Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Bodily Programs.
