Clarification regarding 'Own Merit Status'
Clarification regarding 'Own Merit Status'.
It is clarified that there is no concept of grace marks in betterment attempt and grace marks awarded to any Betterment candidate in 2010 and 2011 DE are being withdrawn.
F.No. DE-2009/ITO/SCT/Availed Benefits/DIT(IT)/5447
DIRECTORATE OF INCOME TAX (IT)
Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue
Dated : 13.12.2012
CLARIFICATION
References have been received from various charges with regard to the award of grace marks to those candidates belonging to SC/ST category who have already qualified in the past with the relaxed standards so as to enable them to attain the ‘Own Merit Status’ by appearing in a betterment attempt or otherwise.
The matter has been examined. The grace marks policy was introduced with the purpose of enabling marginally failing candidates to pass the examination. Enabling reserved category candidates to pass the examination in general category by the grace marks policy was not the espoused philosophy behind the policy. Therefore, the grace marks were not allowed in such cases till the introduction of the betterment scheme. Till 2010, grace marks were given only to pass the examination, but not to obtain “Own Merit Status’ by candidates of the Reserved Category. However, grace marks were allowed to a few candidates appearing in betterment attempts in the Departmental Examinations 2010 and 2011 are being withdrawan. It is accordingly clarified that there is no concept of grace marks in the betterment attempt and any such grace marks awarded to any candidate in Departmental Examinations 2010 and 2011 are being withdrawn.
This issues with the approval of CBDT.
sd/-
(G.K. Maheshwari)
Director of Incone-tax (IT)
New Delhi
Source: www.incometaxindia.gov.in
[http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/archive/DepartmentalNews_OwnMeritStatus_14122012.pdf]
Comments
Secondly the Exam section is not justified in not awarding the grace marks to the SC/ST candidates. It is clear that the Exam Section has minted the grace marks to enable the self declared "Meritorious" candidates belonging to the general category to pass.
Thirdly not awarding grace marks to gain Own Merit Status is in gross violation of DOPT's and Apex Court judgement that a candidate belonging to reserved category will be qualified for promotion on unreserved seat if he would have been promoted had he been a general candidate. Thus a SC/St candidate obtaining 48 marks in one subject stands at par with a general candidate obtaining 48 marks in one subject. But the Exam section has grossly violated the rules by awarding grace marks to the general candidate and at the same time denying the same to the SC/ST candidate forcing him to either be romoted on reserved vacancies or take another exam (betterment exam)
Thirdly the candidate who has passed the entire exam on relaxed standards and is now appearing for betterment exam shoul surely be treated as if he was a general candidate since he is aspiring to achieve the standards meant for the general candidate and thus he deserves the same grace marks as awarded to the general candidate sinc he is aspiring to be a general candidate for the purpose.
Thus award of grace marks is fully justified and if there is denial of that then it is abject manifestation of gross discrimination .