LUCKNOW – The Uttar Pradesh government has made its character verification rules stricter for candidates selected for direct recruitment to government jobs. Under the new order, people found to be involved in violent activities aimed at bringing about a “regime change” could be denied employment.
What the New Rules Say
The order separates political beliefs from violent activity. The government has made it clear that a candidate cannot be declared ineligible for a government job only because of their political ideology.
The rules also protect candidates in another way. The mere registration of a first information report (FIR) against an applicant will not automatically disqualify them. The same goes for a pending investigation. Instead, officials will have to look at the circumstances of each case. An FIR or an ongoing probe alone is not enough to reject a candidate.
In simple terms, holding a political opinion is not a reason to lose a job opportunity. Taking part in violence to overthrow a government could be.
Why It Matters Now
The move comes at a time of heated debate over calls for “regime change” made during a recent protest. It also comes as the BJP-led state government faces growing conflict with opposition parties over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The SIR is a process to update and check the lists of registered voters. The Congress and other INDIA bloc parties have alleged irregularities in this process. They have demanded that the Election Commission be held accountable.
Opposition Protests
On October 12, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders led a “March for Democracy” towards the Supreme Court.
The opposition alliance now plans another show of strength. It will hold a “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1. The rally is expected to focus on two main demands. The first is the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The second is action over allegations of “vote theft.”
What Comes Next
The new verification rules will apply to candidates selected through direct recruitment. Officials will now have to carefully weigh each case instead of relying only on police records. With the political temperature rising ahead of the November 1 rally, the order is likely to draw further reaction from both the government and the opposition.
