Normal life was disrupted in Arunachal Pradesh's Lekang circle on Friday as community organisations, student bodies and NGOs began an indefinite bandh over the state government's new eligibility criteria for recruitment to government jobs. The shutdown started at 5 am, with protesters blocking roads at key entry points, including Banka Bridge, Bordumsa Gate and Dirak Gate. Authorities said no untoward incident had been reported so far.

The protests followed the Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet's decision to introduce uniform eligibility requirements for direct recruitment to Group A, B and C posts. Under the new framework, applicants must have permanent residence, Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) or indigenous status, along with proficiency in at least one indigenous tribal language. The Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission and Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board have been directed to incorporate the provisions into upcoming recruitment processes.

Protesting organisations have argued that the new rules could affect residents of Lekang who are not classified as APST but hold valid domicile or resident certificates. Horojit Morang, representing the protesting groups, described the cabinet decision as unconstitutional and warned that changes to the existing reservation framework could invite legal challenges. He referred to the Supreme Court's 1992 Indra Sawhney judgment and cautioned that judicial intervention could potentially affect the state's reservation arrangements.

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Under the existing system, 80 per cent of vacancies are reserved for APST candidates, while the remaining 20 per cent are available to non-APST aspirants. Protesters fear that changes to the framework could make some domicile-holding residents in Lekang ineligible for government employment. They pointed to historical land survey records dating back to 1968 and argued that the status of genuine residents should be examined before the government finalises the new recruitment policy.

The protesting bodies had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pema Khandu on August 12, urging the government and the Joint High-Powered Committee to examine historical records and domicile documents. Their demand is that existing employment and reservation protections for eligible Lekang residents be safeguarded. Morang indicated that the groups were seeking a democratic resolution for now rather than immediately approaching the courts.

Lekang Assistant Commissioner Tojum Ete confirmed that the bandh was continuing and that police and paramilitary personnel had been deployed in the area. The administration is also preparing for discussions aimed at easing the situation, with Lekang MLA Likha Soni and Namsai Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering scheduled to meet representatives of the protesting organisations. The talks are expected to focus on the recruitment rules and concerns raised by affected residents.

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