Supreme Court Upholds Rajasthan's Two-Child Policy for Government Jobs

 New Delhi, India: The Supreme Court of India has upheld Rajasthan's two-child policy for government jobs, dismissing a challenge filed by an ex-serviceman who was disqualified from applying for a constable's position due to having more than two children.

 

Background:

• The Rajasthan government implemented a rule in 2001 disqualifying individuals with more than two children from applying for government jobs.
• Ram Lal Jat, an ex-serviceman with three children, applied for a constable's post in the Rajasthan Police in 2018 but was disqualified based on this rule.
• He challenged this disqualification in the Rajasthan High Court, but his plea was dismissed in 2022.
• Subsequently, he appealed to the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court's Decision:

• On February 20, 2024, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and KV Viswanathan upheld the Rajasthan High Court's order, effectively upholding the two-child policy for government jobs in the state.
• The court cited its own 2003 judgment, which deemed similar two-child policy provisions non-discriminatory and aligned with the Constitution's objective of promoting family planning.

Wider Context:

• Rajasthan is not the only state with a two-child policy for government jobs and local body elections. Several other states, including Assam, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, have similar regulations in place.
• In 2021, Uttar Pradesh proposed a similar population control bill with provisions barring individuals violating the two-child norm from contesting local body elections or applying for government jobs.

Implications:

• The Supreme Court's decision upholds the legality of Rajasthan's two-child policy for government jobs.
• This decision may have implications for similar policies in other states and future population control initiatives in India.
• The ruling is likely to spark discussions around the effectiveness and ethical considerations of such policies.

It is important to note that:

• This article summarizes the key points of the Supreme Court's decision and the existing context.
• The topic of population control and its implementation raise complex issues with diverse perspectives. This article does not take a stance on the effectiveness or ethical implications of such policies.