TNI Bureau: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared a proposal to provide reservation to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) for their promotions in the government jobs.

The Bill is likely to be tabled in Parliament before the monsoon session ends this week after the review in the parliamentary committee. The state governments have to provide reservation to the SCs and STs for promotion in jobs once the amendment of the bill is passed.

While BSP chief Mayawati welcomed the government decision, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party opposed the bill that provides SC/ST quota in job promotions.

The SP said that reservation for SCs/STs and OBC candidates in government jobs was fine, but the reservations in promotions would not be such a good idea. The party indicated that there should be provision for the OBCs in job promotions.

SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said that the party will continue to oppose the bill in the House as the decision is against the natural justice.

Sources said that the government may propose the Bill for OBCs later. BSP chief Mayawati said that the party had first thought of the proposal. They had even raised for it in April in Rajya Sabha. Later, the government agreed to call an all-party meeting. She hoped all the parties will cooperate and vote in favour of the bill.

However, it can be noted that the government is trying to get the SC/ST votes in the 2014 polls with introduction of the Bill. If the bill gets passed in the parliament, the Congress led UPA can successfully motivate the socially oppressed people in the polls.