Joykisan quizzes Govt on service extension
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 21 2017:
Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Y Khemchand declined an appeal made by Oppo-sition MLA Kh Joykisan for half an hour time to debate the alleged malpractices regarding service extension of Deputy Secretary (Works) Amal Kumar during the question hour at the State Assembly today .
During the question hour, MLA Joykisan asked whether Amal Kumar was authorised to append his signatures on any Government orders after his service extension was cancelled to which Works Minister Th Biswajit replied that he was not authorised to sign on any Government order .
Joykisan pointed out that the service period of Amal Kumar ended on May 31 this year and his service extension also stopped.
As such, his signature became invalid from June 1 .
However, a service extension order for Amal Kumar was issued on November 18 .
The Opposition MLA asked if the signatures appended by Deputy Secre- tary Amal Kumar on various Government orders between June 1 and November 18 are valid, and urged the concerned authority to elaborate the rules or regulations to the House if the signatures are indeed valid .
He also asked for clarification as to why the Deputy Secretary’s (Works) service period was extended although the Cabinet decided against such practice and an order was also issued to put an end to the practice of service extension .
Replying to the questions posed by the Opposition MLA, Works Minister Th Biswajit said that the extension of Amal Kumar’s service period was approved after discussion with the higher authority and with due approval of Cabinet.
Biswajit stated that although Deputy Secretary (Works) Amal Kumar's service term ended in December 31, 2013, his service period has been extended repeatedly since the time of the previous Government.
When the new State Government was set up, the Cabinet decided to end such practices like service extension, contractual services etc .
However, the Cabinet decided to extend Amal Kumar's term till December 31 this year in view of the requirement of his service, Biswajit added .
Raising further questions, Opposition MLA, Kh Joykisan asked whether the Works Department is higher than the State Government if an official whose service term ended as per an order issued by the State Government and the DP, was given service extension and appealed to the Speaker for granting half an hour time to debate the issue .
However, the Speaker declined the appeal and instructed the MLA to discuss the issue with the concerned Minister during the lunch time.