Lucknow, October 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Uttar Pradesh government has tightened character verification rules for direct recruitment to government jobs, making individuals associated with organisations advocating violent changes to the existing social system ineligible for appointment.
The revised guidelines, issued by M. Devraj, Principal Secretary of the Appointments Department, apply to government departments, corporations, councils and local bodies. The move comes amid a political controversy over calls for “regime change” during a recent protest and has drawn criticism from the Samajwadi Party and Congress.
Under the order, membership of an organisation whose stated objective is to change the existing social system through violence can render a candidate unsuitable for government employment. However, the government has clarified that political ideology alone cannot be grounds for disqualification.
The guidelines also state that participation in such activities after the age of 21 and within the three years preceding verification may be treated as evidence of continued involvement, unless concrete evidence indicates a change in the candidate’s conduct.
An FIR or pending investigation will not automatically disqualify an applicant. The same applies to candidates who have been acquitted, cases resolved through compromise and matters covered by juvenile justice laws, subject to the prescribed verification rules.
To prevent administrative delays, appointment letters may be issued provisionally if character verification reports have not arrived, provided candidates submit the required documents and a self-declaration.
However, if subsequent verification establishes that a candidate is ineligible or has supplied false information, the appointment will be cancelled and legal action may follow.
Employees already serving in government departments will not need fresh character verification under the revised policy. Appointing authorities may seek information from their previous departments where necessary.
The police have been directed to submit character verification reports within 30 days. The government said the changes aim to streamline recruitment while ensuring that pending investigations and procedural delays do not automatically prevent eligible candidates from securing employment.
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