Panel to discuss again whether to factor in 'salary' to determine 'creamy layer'

A parliamentary committee, revisiting a long-standing debate, is set to discuss the inclusion of "salary" in determining the "creamy layer" for OBC reservation in UPSC exams. MPs argue that including "salary" contradicts a 1993 order, while the government justifies its stance based on the lack of "equivalence of posts" between PSU and government jobs.

Parliament (File photo) NEW DELHI: In the wake of vociferous demands from MPs in a meeting of a parliamentary committee that “discrimination” in determining the “creamy layer” for OBC reservation be settled, the panel has called for another discussion this month. But, it now emerges, the Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of OBCs had probed the issue in detail five years ago and ruled against the inclusion of “salary” in calculating “income”. Incidentally, the panel then too was headed by its present chairperson — BJP MP Ganesh Singh.

Sources said the committee has summoned the DoPT on Nov 28, when the issue of factoring in “salary” in the “income” of backward candidates with PSU background qualifying UPSC exams will be considered. In the committee’s meeting on Wednesday, the MPs led by DMK’s TR Baalu, Congress’ Manickam Tagore, SP’s Ramashankar Rajbhar and a senior BJP member slammed what they called was violation of the 1993 OM that lays down that “income” will not include “salary” and “agricultural income”. In a controversy that has gone on for a few years, govt has been including “salary” for candidates with parents in PSUs etc, on grounds that there is no “equivalence of posts” drawn with govt posts like Group A, B, C, D.

On Wednesday, the MPs also questioned govt about non-revision of income ceiling for OBC reservation. They lamented it was last done in 2017 and is stuck at Rs 8 lakh..