Congress Seeks Fresh Police Recruitment Notification in Khordha ;

OPCC leader alleges inadequate opportunities for OBC and SEBC candidates, threatens High Court action.

Dillip Kumar Pattnaik

KHORDHA, OCTOBER 27: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has demanded a fresh notification for police recruitment in Khordha district, alleging that the existing provisions do not adequately address the interests of eligible candidates belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC). The party has warned of approaching the High Court if the state government fails to consider its demands.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, Sonali Sahu, general secretary and spokesperson of the OPCC, welcomed the state government’s decision to initiate recruitment to the Odisha Police but raised questions over the provisions of the notification and the opportunities available to eligible candidates from backward-class communities.
Sahu urged the government to review the existing notification and issue a fresh one after examining the relevant reservation provisions and recruitment rules. She argued that the recruitment process should ensure fairness, transparency and equal access to public employment for all eligible candidates.
Citing estimates of the population of backward-class communities, the Congress leader claimed that OBCs and SEBCs together constitute approximately 54 per cent of Odisha’s population, while their share in Khordha district is estimated to be between 45 and 50 per cent. She maintained that the concerns of these communities deserved due consideration in the recruitment exercise.
The OPCC spokesperson contended that public employment should be guided by the constitutional principles of equality and social justice. She called upon the state government to clarify the provisions governing the recruitment process and ensure that eligible candidates receive opportunities in accordance with the applicable reservation policy and recruitment rules.
Highlighting the economic contribution of backward-class communities, Sahu alleged that their concerns had not received adequate attention despite their substantial presence in the district and their role in local economic activities. She said the government should take the issue seriously and address any shortcomings in the recruitment framework.
The Congress leader also questioned the response of elected representatives from Khordha, Chilika, Jatni and Bolagarh, alleging that they had not adequately raised the concerns of affected candidates. She called upon legislators and other public representatives to seek clarification from the government and press for a review of the notification.
Sahu further appealed to the Member of Parliament from Bhubaneswar and other representatives of the region to intervene in the matter. She urged them to take up the issue with the state government and seek appropriate measures to protect the interests of eligible candidates.
Referring to the broader debate on social justice and equitable representation, the OPCC spokesperson invoked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s advocacy of the rights of backward classes. She maintained that the issue of representation in public employment required serious consideration at both the state and national levels.
The Congress has called for the withdrawal of the existing notification and the issuance of a revised one after a thorough examination of the provisions affecting OBC and SEBC candidates. It has also sought greater transparency in the recruitment process and clarity on the implementation of reservation rules.
Reiterating the party’s position, Sahu warned that the Congress would seek legal intervention before the High Court if the government failed to respond to its demands.
The controversy has brought the question of equitable access to police recruitment in Khordha district into focus. The central issue concerns the provisions of the recruitment notification, the opportunities available to eligible candidates and the application of the relevant reservation rules.
However, the specific allegations regarding the availability of posts for OBC and SEBC candidates need to be assessed against the official recruitment notification and the applicable reservation provisions.