The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh has tightened character verification rules for government recruitment, making candidates involved in violent activities aimed at bringing about a “regime change” potentially ineligible for state government jobs.
The revised guidelines, issued by Principal Secretary M. Devaraj, apply to candidates selected through direct recruitment to government departments, corporations, councils and local bodies. Those already employed in government departments will not be required to undergo character verification under the new provisions.
According to The Times of India, the order states that individuals belonging to organisations whose stated objective is to change the existing social system through violence will be considered ineligible for government appointments.
The guidelines also state that participation in such activities during the three years preceding character verification, and after a candidate turns 21, may be treated as evidence of continued involvement. This presumption can be reconsidered if there is concrete evidence of a positive change in the candidate’s conduct during the intervening period, NDTV reported.
Political Ideology Alone Cannot Disqualify Candidates
The order clarifies that candidates cannot be disqualified solely because of their political ideology. The registration of a first information report (FIR) or the pendency of an investigation will also not automatically make an applicant ineligible, according to NDTV.
The revised rules come amid protests in parts of the country, including demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the functioning of the Election Commission. Youth protests have also taken place over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
The changes follow remarks by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath warning against attempts to bring about a change of government in India through unrest similar to Bangladesh’s 2024 student led uprising.
“In a democracy, the path to power flows from the mandate of the people, not from chaos,” Adityanath said in a post on X.
His remarks came amid controversy over comments by All India Students’ Association (AISA) leader Neha Bora, who reportedly said that Bangladesh’s Gen Z uprising had “shown us the way” while addressing a conference organised by Bangladesh’s Socialist Students’ Front.
Opposition Calls Order Unconstitutional
Opposition parties have criticised the revised guidelines, arguing that they could threaten the right to peaceful protest.
Congress leader Aaradhana Mona Mishra described the order as unconstitutional, saying that citizens have a constitutional right to express their views, organise demonstrations and protest peacefully.
“The Constitution of this country gives people the right to peacefully express their views, protest and hold demonstrations,” she said. She added that attempts to spread unrest or make provocative statements were a separate matter.
Samajwadi Party leader Udayveer Singh accused the BJP government of adopting an intimidatory approach.
He argued that restrictions of this nature were associated with British colonial rule and said that, in independent India, the right to protest was constitutionally guaranteed.
“In independent India, however, the right to protest is a Constitutional guarantee,” Singh said. “A change in regime occurs through legal, established processes… after every election, and anyone is free to participate.”
