Recruitment and conditions of service of persons serving the Union or a State
Quick Summary (TL;DR)
Article 309 (Recruitment and conditions of service of persons serving the Union or a State): Regulates civil services, tenure security (Art 311), and independent Public Service Commissions (UPSC/PSC) under Part XIV.
In Simple Citizen Words
Article 309 ('Recruitment and conditions of service of persons serving the Union or a State') in Part XIV (Services Under the Union and the States) governs public recruitment and civil service accountability. It regulates recruitment rules (Art 309), due-process inquiry protections before dismissal/removal of civil servants (Art 311), All-India Services (Art 312), and the independent functioning, appointment, removal protections, and annual reports of UPSC and State PSCs (Arts 315–323). Specifically: Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Acts of the appropriate Legislature may regulate the recruitment, and conditions of service of persons appointed, to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or...
Key Constitutional Provisions
Constitutional Mandate (Art. 309): Directly codifies the legal rule for 'Recruitment and conditions of service of persons serving the Union or a State' under Part XIV
Sets a direct, self-contained constitutional command binding on public authorities across India
Exercises of constitutional office under this article must follow aid, advice, and established constitutional conventions
Exceptions & Reasonable Restrictions
Under Article 319, UPSC/PSC Chairpersons and Members are barred from holding subsequent government employment to prevent political favouritism in recruitment.
Why This Matters in Daily Life
Protects merit-based competitive recruitment for youth and shields honest government officers from political victimization.
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