New Delhi [India]: In a significant move towards justice and rehabilitation, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday handed over job appointment letters to 125 individuals from families affected by the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Addressing the media after the ceremony, Chief Minister Gupta stated:
“Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Delhi government has given appointment letters to 125 people from victim families of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.”
Special Relaxations Approved by Delhi LG
Earlier this year, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had approved full relaxation in educational qualifications and age limits up to 55 years for 88 applicants, enabling their employment under the compensation scheme for riot victims. The appointments are to Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) positions in government service.
This decision followed repeated appeals by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, public representatives, and riot-affected families.
According to an official release dated January 5, 2025, the Delhi LG had previously granted:
- Educational qualification relaxation to 50 applicants
- Age relaxation for 22 applicants
These approvals allowed 72 applicants identified during a 2006 Revenue Department special drive to be considered for government employment. However, only 22 appointments were made at the time due to qualification and age constraints.
In October 2024, LG Saxena approved full qualification relaxations for the remaining 50 applicants. He also directed the department to consider employment for children of those who had aged out of eligibility.
New Applications Processed in Special Camps
The Revenue Department held special application camps on November 28 and 30, 2024, after issuing public notices. These efforts yielded 199 applications, out of which 89 were found eligible, though most were over the age limit or lacked required qualifications.
LG Saxena approved relaxations for these cases as well, emphasizing the need to address long-standing injustice.
“Terrible atrocities were committed upon a particular minority community, violating all standards of human rights and affecting many families by taking away their breadwinners,” said Saxena, describing the 1984 riots as a blot on India’s democratic traditions.
Background: Long-Delayed Rehabilitation Efforts
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had sanctioned a rehabilitation package for riot victims on January 16, 2006, which included job provisions. However, delays in execution and restrictive eligibility criteria had prevented many victims’ families from receiving support until now.
This latest initiative marks a significant step in fulfilling the long-overdue promise of justice and economic support for the victims’ families.