New Delhi, June 5: The Supreme Court on Tuesday instructed the government to continue with reservation of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe employees as per the current law, till the Constitution Bench disposes off the issue.

The matter was taken to the courtroom by the government after several high courts, along with the apex court, had made 'efficiency' and 'backwardness' as a criteria while upholding reservation in promotion of SC/ST employees.

As per the amended rules, the employees hailing from the underprivileged castes are entitled to certain benefits in promotion, but will be subjected to the criterias of 'efficiency' and 'backwardness'.

The Centre moved the top court seeking the annulment of apex court's erstwhile order on promotion, calling it impractical and untenable. The matter is listed for hearing before a five-judge Constitution Bench.

"I'm the government and I have to give promotion to my employee," said Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh. The court retorted saying, "We can say that you can go ahead with promotion as per law and we won't mention what is (the) law."

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, known as a tall Dalit leader of Bihar, has defended the government on the row involving the reservation of SC/ST employees. Paswan said the Centre is taking all steps possible to seek the reversal of apex court's earlier order.

Paswan said the criterias of efficiency and backwardness are "unnecessary". There is no need to adjudicate on their 'backwardness', the LJP chief said, as the Constitution has already defined them as SCs and STs. On 'efficiency', Paswan said the employees from backward castes are as efficient as others.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 05, 2018 12:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).