The Opposition parties have lashed out at the Centre's move to recruit 45 senior bureaucrats through lateral entry without following reservation norms.

They alleged that RSS supporters would be appointed through this process of direct recruitment to be conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

On Saturday, the UPSC advertised 45 posts — 10 of joint secretaries and 35 of directors/deputy secretaries — to be filled through the lateral entry mode on a contract basis. It is the biggest tranche of lateral recruitment being undertaken by the Centre, an official said.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs was being "openly snatched away" by such action. "Narendra Modi is attacking the Constitution by recruiting public servants through the RSS instead of the UPSC. Reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs are being snatched by lateral entry to central ministries. I have raised the absence of deprived sections at top positions. They are being pushed further by this lateral entry," Rahul posted in Hindi.

"Privatisation of IAS is 'Modi's guarantee' to end reservation," he added.

He called it a big setback to social justice and the candidates appearing for the civil services exam.

RJD president Lalu Prasad said it was an attempt to usurp the rights of the deprived. “Acting on the advice of Narendra Modi and his allies, the UPSC has advertised direct recruitment for the posts of joint secretary, deputy secretary and director from the private sector. No government employee can apply for this. There is no reservation as stipulated by the Constitution,” Lalu said in a statement.

Pulling the RSS within the ambit of his attack, Lalu said the move was “the Nagpur model to appoint the people from the private army of the BJP — those who wear khaki pants — at high positions in the important ministries of the Government of India".

"The people of the NDA are committing dacoity on the rights of the deprived,” Lalu added.

CPM leader Sitaram Yechury posted on X that the government's decision "is a clear attempt to infiltrate RSS personnel to further its agenda to subvert our Constitutional Scheme".

"This negates the Constitutional mandate for Reservations. If done through the normal practice of UPSC selection then at least 23 of 45 would be competent SC/ST/OBC candidates. Modi urgency to implement the Manu Smriti social order," he posted.

BSP chief Mayawati also opposed the policy. "This lateral entry recruitment is not a correct policy. Low-level staff will not get promotion. If there is no reservation, it is violation of the Constitution. This is a unilateral decision of the BJP government," she posted on X.

DMK leader P. Wilson said the advertisement was a classic example of disregard for the constitutional mandate of reservation. "Is it not a fraud on the Constitution @UPSC_Official? Are you going to proceed with this exfacie illegal, antireservation recruitment process or apply constitutional reservation formula and call for a fresh recruitment, Honble PM @narendramodi ji?" he posted.