BHEL Under Fire for Charging Fees from SC/ST Candidates, Violating Government Norms

New Delhi- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is facing criticism from Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar National Association of Engineers (BANAE) over its recent recruitment notification (Advt. No. 03/2025), which mandates a processing fee of ₹472, including GST, from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates. The notification pertains to the recruitment of 150 Engineer Trainees and 250 Supervisor Trainees for various power sector sites across India.

In a strongly-worded letter addressed to BHEL’s Chairman and Managing Director, BANAE's National President, Nagsen Sonare, has termed this fee imposition as "illegal" and a violation of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) guidelines, which exempt SC/ST candidates from paying any fees for recruitment examinations or related processes.

The recruitment drive is for Engineer Trainees and Supervisor Trainees in various disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, civil, electronics, chemical, and metallurgy. The vacancies are distributed across key locations such as Trichy, Ranipet, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Vizag, Haridwar, and other power sector sites. Online applications are scheduled to open on February 1, 2025.

Sonare cited DoPT Office Memorandum (O.M.) No. 36011/3/84-Estt. (SCT) dated July 1, 1985, which explicitly states that SC/ST candidates are entitled to a full exemption of fees for admission to any recruitment examination or selection process. The guidelines were issued to alleviate the financial difficulties faced by SC/ST candidates and have been in effect for nearly four decades.

The letter highlighted that while BHEL's advertisement states "Examination Fees: ₹0" for SC/ST candidates, the adjacent column specifies a processing fee of ₹472. According to BANAE, this categorization of fees is a deliberate attempt to circumvent the fee exemption directive.

About the Fee Exemption Notification

The DoPT O.M. No. 36011/3/84-Estt. (SCT), dated July 1, 1985, outlines the government's decision to exempt SC/ST candidates from all fees related to recruitment examinations and selection processes.

The decision was based on a recommendation by the Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in its 1979-80 Annual Report, which called for full fee exemption to alleviate the financial difficulties faced by these communities.

The memorandum mandates that all ministries and departments adhere to these guidelines and ensure the exemption is uniformly implemented.

BANAE has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the processing fee for SC/ST candidates and urged BHEL to correct its advertisement to align with the DoPT guidelines. The letter stressed the urgency of the matter, as the online application process is set to begin shortly.

Sonare emphasized that the imposition of fees creates an unfair financial burden on candidates from marginalized communities, defeating the purpose of affirmative action policies aimed at fostering inclusivity in public sector employment.

This controversy highlights persistent gaps in the implementation of reservation policies and fee exemptions for marginalized communities in India. While public sector undertakings (PSUs) like BHEL are expected to lead by example, such instances reflect a lack of compliance with long-standing government directives.

As the February 1 application date approaches, all eyes are on BHEL to see if it will rectify this issue and reaffirm its commitment to social equity and justice.