Uttar Pradesh Tightens Character Verification Rules for Government Jobs

Lucknow, October 29 (Daily Kiran) : The Uttar Pradesh government has announced stricter character verification rules for candidates applying for direct recruitment in government jobs. Under the new guidelines, individuals associated with organizations advocating violent changes to the current social order will be deemed ineligible for employment.

This decision comes in the wake of recent protests demanding “regime change,” which have drawn criticism from opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and Congress.

According to the revised guidelines, candidates who have participated in protests aimed at altering the existing system through violence may be disqualified from government positions. However, the government clarified that a candidate’s political ideology alone will not be grounds for disqualification.

The directive was issued by M. Devaraj, the Principal Secretary of the Appointment Department, and applies to direct recruitment in government departments, corporations, councils, and local bodies.

The order states that individuals affiliated with organizations whose declared aim is to change the social order through violence will be considered unsuitable for government appointments. It emphasizes that no one should be deemed unfit for appointment solely based on their political beliefs.

Moreover, involvement in such activities after the age of 21 and within three years prior to verification will be taken as evidence of ongoing engagement, unless substantial proof indicates a change in behavior during that time.

The revised policy also clarifies that merely having an FIR filed against a candidate or pending investigations will not automatically disqualify them from government jobs. Candidates who have been acquitted, resolved issues through mutual consent, or fall under juvenile justice laws will not be automatically deemed ineligible under these guidelines.

The government has also stated that delays in receiving character verification reports will not necessarily postpone the issuance of appointment letters. Relevant officials can issue provisional appointment letters after collecting necessary documents and self-declarations from candidates.

However, if a candidate is found ineligible during verification or is discovered to have provided false information, their appointment will be immediately canceled, and legal action may follow.

Existing employees in government departments are exempt from undergoing a new character verification process. However, appointment authorities may request relevant information from their previous departments if necessary.

The police have been instructed to submit character verification reports within 30 days to avoid unnecessary delays in the recruitment process. The government aims to streamline the verification process while ensuring that eligible candidates are not deprived of job opportunities due to pending investigations or procedural delays.