With early Lok Sabha elections still a possibility, the Government on Thursday decided to fill a backlog of more than 28,000 vacancies reserved for OBC candidates.

The backlog will be treated as a “separate and distinct” group not subject to the limit of 50 per cent reservation in a year, Minister of State for PMO Prithviraj Chavan told reporters after a meeting of the Union Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the capital.

“After the Indira Sawney Judgement, the 81st amendment had enabled the Government to lift the ceiling of 50 per cent to fill the backlog vacancies reserved for SCs/STs. The same is being extended for filling up the backlog vacancies reserved for OBCs through an official order. This will apply only for the backlog vacancies and not for new posts,” informed Chavan after the cabinet meeting. He added that instructions would be issued to pave the way for conducting a special recruitment drive for filling up the backlog of 28,670 reserved vacancies for OBCs.

The CCEA decided to provide 100 per cent central assistance to state governments besides central and other universities for construction and extension of hostels for ST girls. For construction and extension of hostels for ST boys, the Centre will offer financial assistance to state governments on a 50:50 matching basis, informed Chavan. For the identified districts in Naxal-affected states, however, the financial assistance will be 100 per cent.

Also approved

• The CCEA also approved the continuation of “grant-in-aid” scheme to voluntary organisations working for the welfare of STs.

... contd.