No government jobs in Uttar Pradesh for protesters 'involved in regime change through violence'

The Yogi Adityanath-led government has addressed concerns about frivolous criminal complaints and clarified that mere filing of an FIR or an ongoing police investigation does not automatically disqualify a candidate. File | Photo credit: Special arrangement

The Uttar Pradesh government has barred those protesting for a change in the “established system” from government jobs, significantly tightening and also widening its parameters for direct recruitment to government services.

The state government has revised the character verification norms guidelines for candidates selected through direct recruitment in government departments, saying individuals associated with organizations “seeking to change the existing political system by violent means” are ineligible for government posts.

A directive issued by Principal Secretary (Appointment and Personnel) M Devaraj on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) states that candidates who are found to be members of organizations whose declared aim is to bring about change in the existing system through violent means will be considered ineligible for government employment.

However, the government added that political ideology alone cannot be grounds for disqualification. The rules will apply to character checks in government departments, public sector corporations, boards of trustees and urban and rural local authorities. The revised framework also says that if a candidate has engaged in “violent activities or activities aimed at changing the existing system” in the three years prior to the date of verification, after reaching the age of 21, that person can be presumed to continue to actively participate.

However, the authorities may consider documented evidence of a genuine positive shift in the candidate’s behavior and thinking during this period.

Similarly, candidates who have secured acquittals, settled cases by statutory compromise, or whose cases fall under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act will not be automatically rejected.

Existing civil service employees will not require fresh character verification, although the necessary service records may be requested from their previous parent ministries, he said.

The opposition protested the government’s decision

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma said: “These are the rules of a cowardly government. What does regime change mean? It is not a change of system, it is a change of power.”

He said the SP supports a change of government only through democratic means, especially elections, and does not advocate any other method of changing power.

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajpoot also criticized the BJP and said that peaceful protests and sitins by youths should not be treated as acts of violence.

He said the BJP’s attempt to portray the youth movements as violent would evoke a strong response not only from the youth of Uttar Pradesh but also across the country.

“If the youth protest, it is not violence. If they stage a sit-in, it is not violence. If they protest against the paper leak, it is not violence,” Mr. Rajpoot said, warning that the BJP would drive another nail into its own coffin with these moves.

“People spreading anarchy should be treated like this,” said BJP MP Ram Pratap Singh.

(With inputs from PTI)

Published – 29 Oct 2026 20:17 IST