Question

Explain the scope of the following right:

Equality of opportunity in matters of Public Employment.

Answer 1

Equality of opportunity in matters of Public Employment:
Article 16, lays down that there shall be equal opportunity for citizens, “in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State”. There shall be no discrimination against any citizen on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth residence, or any of them in respect of any employment under the State.
There are however three limitations:

1. For State employment, the parliament may make laws prescribing any requirement as to ‘residence’. Posts which require a knowledge of the locality and of the language of the area are confined to it,
2. For members from backward classes, not adequately represented in the services under the State, the State may reserve posts for them,
3. There may be a law that requires that the holder of an office of any religious institution shall be a person professing that particular religion.