Yogi Adityanath's UP government tightens job rules after GenZ protests: Who can be barred from government jobs?

The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has tightened character verification rules for government job applicants, making individuals associated with organizations that seek to change the existing social order through violence ineligible for recruitment.

The revised guidelines state that a person will be considered ineligible if he is a member of “any organization whose main objective is to change the existing order of society by violent means”.

The move was learned to have been prompted by youth protests in several states, especially those led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), The Print reported.

The revised guidelines were issued by Principal Secretary (Appointment and Personnel) M. Devaraj on Wednesday.

Under the new policy, participation in “any such activities” after the age of 21 and within three years of the date of the survey will be considered evidence that the individual remains actively engaged in “such activities.” This presumption will apply unless there is concrete evidence of a “change of attitude” during that period.

However, the policy makes it clear that no person will be deemed unfit for appointment to government merely because of their political views.

Read also | The government is defending the IDBI Bank sale process, saying the earlier norms were only indicative

UP government introduces provisional appointment letters amid verification changes

In a press statement on Thursday, the Uttar Pradesh government defended the revised guidelines, saying the new system would remove the need for candidates to wait for character verification reports before joining the government service.

According to the government, a uniform policy for character verification and background checks will simplify recruitment and ensure timely appointments.

Under the revised procedure, shortlisted candidates can receive provisional appointment letters even while police verification is in progress. Their appointment will be confirmed once the verification report is found satisfactory.

However, detailed verification will remain mandatory before appointment to sensitive and security-related positions.

The government directed the police and officials concerned to submit verification reports within 30 days. The move is expected to reduce the delay in recruitment and save candidates from repeated visits to police stations and government offices, the statement said.

Read also | Why CEA V Anantha Nageswaran wants India to rethink its growth strategy

The 21-page guidelines issued on Wednesday also make it clear that mere registration of an FIR against a candidate or an ongoing investigation does not automatically disqualify them, The Print reported.

The revised policy will cover direct recruitment across ministries, corporations, boards, educational institutions, autonomous bodies, public sector undertakings, panchayats and local bodies. Recruitment cases that have already been processed will also be processed under the new guidelines.

DGP (Intel), District Magistrates to assist in verification

In accordance with the prescribed procedure, the authority authorized to appoint shall forward data on the candidate to the director general of the police (intelligence service), the district municipality of the candidate’s home district and the district municipalities of places where the applicant lived for more than a year in the previous five years.

District Magistrates shall obtain reports from the respective District Superintendents of Police before submitting their findings to the appointing authority.

For routine cases, the police and local intelligence units will carry out verification using their existing records. Applicants will not be required to appear physically, undergo an interview or submit any additional documents.

Read also | Chinese spy scare surrounding Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang: What we know

Field verification may, however, be ordered in special cases at the direction of the appointing authority.

If the police verification report is unfavorable, the district judge will give the candidate an opportunity to present their case before a decision is made.

The Superintendent of Police of the concerned State or Union Territory may also be consulted for candidates who have lived in another State for the prescribed period.

Applicants must indicate a criminal history in the application

The revised guidelines require applicants to state in their application forms and affidavit whether they have ever been arrested, prosecuted or convicted by a court.

Candidates must also disclose details of any dismissal from previous government service and any ban imposed by the recruitment committee or board for using unfair means.

Withholding information could result in cancellation of the appointment. However, the candidature will not be canceled simply because the applicant did not mention an arrest or a criminal case in the application, if they subsequently communicate it in writing during a medical examination, confirmation, verification or through a self-declaration form.

The guidelines also state that existing civil service employees will not have to undergo character verification again. However, if required, information can be obtained from their previous departments.

What offenses can make candidates ineligible for UP Govt Jobs?

According to the revised policy, candidates against whom charges have been filed in cases involving murder, sedition, sedition, kidnapping for ransom, rape, dowry death and offenses under the POCSO Act will not be eligible for government posts. Persons convicted in such cases will also be excluded.

Individuals involved in examination malpractice will also be disqualified. This includes running fraud rackets, leaking question papers, running solver gangs, impersonating candidates and obtaining fake certificates.

The policy also covers cyber crimes, including digital arrest fraud and fraud through digital payment platforms.

Candidates facing cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Prevention of Money Laundering Act or the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Terrorist Activities (Prevention) Act will also be considered ineligible under the revised policy.