What is lateral entry? How and why the Narendra Modi-led Union government cancelled the advertisement for recruitment and withdrew the lateral entry plan? Did Jawahar Lal Nehru-led government recruited top-level bureaucrats through lateral entry route? These questions popped up after the Opposition as well as some coalition partners of the ruling BJP opposed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) advertisement for recruitment of 45 top-level officers at the ranks of joint secretaries, deputy secretaries and directors. Coming under scathing attacks from right, left and centre, the government asked the UPSC to withdraw the advertisement. A nationwide shutdown was also held on August 21 to protest against the Supreme Court decision allowing sub-categorisation of the Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Coalition Partners, Opposition Against Lateral Entry

The government bid to recruit top-level officials bypassing the normal cadre of the central agencies kick-started the controversy that rocked the credibility. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati came out slamming the Narendra Modi government for what they called an attempt to sabotage the reservation provisions.

Why Lateral Entry?

The government adopted the policy of appointing mid and top level officers with specific expertise in a bid to hire the talented people available in the society, but those who are not in its service at the relevant level. If reports are to be believed, government lacks people with certain extremely rare capabilities that are required for specific jobs. But it is also alleged that the government wants to use this excuse to hire people leaning to its ideology. Lateral entry may give the government a way to appoint people associated with the ruling party and the organisations linked to it.

How Lateral Entry Began?

It all began with the Manmohan Singh government that set up the Second Administrative Reforms Commission in 2004-05. The commission recommended to recruit people through lateral entry.
NITI Ayog also recommended to induct people at the middle and senior management level of the central government in 2017.

It was announced that people with domain expertise and proven track record may be appointed from private sector, public sector undertakings, state government and autonomous bodies.

No Reservation In Lateral Entry

The lateral entry was kept out of the ambit of reservation provisions because of the 13-point roster policy. This policy refers to the method of determining a candidate’s placement by calculating the group’s quota percentage like those of the SC, ST, OBC and EWS. Since each of these vacancies is treated as a “single post”, reservation policy is not applied here.

How Many Have Been Recruited?

Since the scheme of lateral entry was launched in 2018, only 63 candidates have been appointed to various ministries. Out of them, 57 people hold their positions now.

The concerns of those opposing the lateral entry can be understood by the fact that only 4% positions at the senior levels of Joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries are held by Scheduled Castes and 4.49% by Scheduled Tribe candidates.

Lateral Entry: Pitfalls

Those who oppose lateral entry also point out that besides bypassing reservation provisions, it is also a fact that the people recruited through this process would not be loyal to their work or department as they would be hired only for three years. Secondly, conflict of interest between private sector and the government department cannot be ruled out.

Did Nehru Begin Lateral Entry?

Taking on the opposition leaders, Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal alleged that the concept of lateral entry was introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. He went to the extent of alleging that Dr. Manmohan Singh too was recruited to the Ministry of Finance through the process of lateral entry.

Did Government Surrender To Allies’ Pressure?

It appears that the government has taken one step back to appease its coalition partners like Lok Janshakti Party and Janata Dal United. LJP chief and the Minister of Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan was the first minister to oppose the government openly. JD (U) leader KC Tyagi too was vocal. Both of them have welcomed the government’s decision to cancel the recruitment advertisement under the lateral entry scheme.