Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh Industries and IPR Minister Nyato Dukam has said the state’s 80:20 job reservation policy could be vulnerable to legal scrutiny, cautioning that the entire framework may be struck down if challenged in court.
Speaking amid growing demands to abolish the provision that reserves 20 per cent of certain government posts for non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (non-APST) candidates, Dukam said the policy’s legal validity could become a major issue if the matter reaches the judiciary.
“If someone goes to court, there are apprehensions that the entire 80:20 reservation policy may get scrapped because we are reserving jobs against the Central government’s job policy,” the minister said.
His remarks come at a time when several student bodies, unions and civil society organisations have stepped up their campaign against the existing recruitment policy, insisting that all state government jobs should be reserved exclusively for Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) candidates.
The minister indicated that any legal challenge could have consequences extending beyond the disputed 20 per cent quota, potentially affecting the entire reservation structure currently followed by the state.
The debate over the policy has gathered momentum in recent weeks, with supporters of the existing system arguing that it balances administrative requirements, while opponents maintain that employment opportunities in state government departments should be protected solely for indigenous tribal communities.
Dukam’s comments have added a new legal dimension to the ongoing controversy, highlighting the government’s concern over the long-term sustainability of the reservation policy if it is subjected to judicial review.