UP bars job seekers tied to groups seeking violent regime change
A new Uttar Pradesh circular rewrites character-verification rules for government hiring, setting a 30-day police deadline and drawing sharp political reactions.
The Uttar Pradesh government has declared candidates ineligible for state jobs if they belong to organisations whose stated aim is to change the "established system" through violent means. The rules were issued on Wednesday by Principal Secretary (Appointment and Personnel) M Devaraj and apply to direct recruitment across all state departments, public sector corporations, boards, and urban and rural local bodies.
The circular says political ideology alone will not disqualify anyone. The bar applies only to those linked with groups whose avowed purpose is to force a change of regime by violent methods. If a candidate took part in such activity, or in violent agitation, within three years before verification and after turning 21, the order presumes the involvement is continuing. Officials may still weigh documented evidence that the person has genuinely changed.
The guidelines also close government employment for good to candidates implicated in serious offences. These include murder, dacoity, rape, outraging modesty, corruption, terror acts, recruitment exam paper leaks and organised "solver gang" rackets. At the same time, the state says a mere FIR or a pending police inquiry will not automatically rule someone out. Candidates who were acquitted, settled cases lawfully, or fall under the Juvenile Justice Act will not face automatic rejection.
For the millions of young people who chase state jobs, much of the practical change lies in the process. Police and the Local Intelligence Unit must deliver character reports within 30 days, with the state home department monitoring the deadline. Officials are told not to make house visits or call candidates to police stations. Appointing authorities can issue provisional letters on a self-declaration and undertakings, so a pending report need not hold up a joining date. False information leads to cancellation and criminal proceedings.
If a report is adverse, the district magistrate must let the candidate present their side, in person or online, before sending on a final adverse recommendation. Serving state employees need no fresh verification, though service records can be sought from earlier departments.
The circular quickly became a political flashpoint. Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma called them "the rules of a cowardly government" and argued that regime change means a change in power, not in the system. He said his party backs changing governments only through democratic means such as elections. The Congress also criticised the order, while the ruling BJP defended it.
Why it matters: in a state where government jobs are among the most sought-after careers, the line between lawful protest and disqualifying activity will be watched closely. How broadly officials read the phrase "established system", and how quickly verification reports actually arrive, will decide whether the rules speed up hiring or add uncertainty for applicants.
Source: The Pioneer