Kerala announces creamy layer norms

Kerala announces creamy layer norms
Express News Service

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 19:

The Government on Friday announced the creamy layer norms based on JosephCommission recommendations. The norms which come into force with immediateeffect may, however, be changed subject to the report of NarendranCommission appointed to identify the creamy layer among the backwardcommunities in the State.

An official release said here on Friday that PSC and public sectororganisations had been directed to start appointment process based on thenorms. It may be recalled that the State Government had suspended allappointments in the wake of the Supreme Court, while accepting the findingsof Joseph Commission, observing that a creamy layer existed among the OBCsin the state.

The release said that all the 73 OBCs/sub-castes continued to have 40 percent reservation in government appointments including the direct ones underthe norms. There would not be any change in the communal rotation normsunder the new system. According to the new norms, the posts to which OBCcandidates were selected under open merit should not be included in the 40per cent reservation quota.

While Viswakarma community and some sub-castes of the fishermen wereexempted from the purview of the creamy layer under the new norms asdirected by the SC, five communities and their 10 sub-castes were includedin the list of OBCs in the state as ordered by the court. Under the norms,OBC candidates who do not come under the purview of the creamy layer shouldproduce the certificate in this regard in approved form for getting thebenefits of reservation in government appointments.

The district collector, ADM, RDO and tahsildar are empowered to issue thenon-creamy layer certificates, according to the release. The releaseclarified that the eligible OBC candidates who have received the PSC advicememo or appointment order from PSC after December 13, when the SC ordercame, should submit the non-creamy layer certificate with PSC.