Cong ridicules Govt decision to re-engage retired officials
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 30 2022:
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) spokesperson N Bhupendra has remarked that the state BJP government has failed to live by its stand of not granting service extension to retired top government officials including the chief secretary.
Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhawan here on Friday, Bhupendra mentioned the service extension of the chief secretary for a period of 6 more months for the second time.
In addition, the services of top government officials in various departments including chief engineers and retired officials are being extended continuously.
As per an editorial of a daily, the state government led by CM N Biren took a cabinet decision on April 3, 2017 of not engaging retired government officials/employees.
However, the service period of an important post like the CS has been extended twice on a 6-month basis.
The next in seniority to incumbent CS Dr Rajesh Kumar is IAS MH Khan, both being from the same batch.
They are followed by Letkhogin Haokip and others.
Dr Rajesh Kumar himself had retired from service 6 months ago.
Apart from the 1988 batch, there are additional CSs from other batches.
As such, the people can only wonder whether there are no competent IAS officers or additional chief secretaries excluding the retired officials, to take on the job.
Another important question is whether the extension is justified or not, Bhupendra remarked.
The MPCC spokesperson continued: "The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel & Training (DOPT) issued an office memorandum on December 1 regarding retirement extension-in-service.
It stated the specific conditions for service extension after 60 years of age such as for those dealing with budget or being a fulltime member of a committee, with the extension not exceeding to more than 3 months.
If the retired official is in medical field or a scientist, the service period could be extended to 62 years in the interest of the public.
If the central government wants to extend the service of a cabinet secretary, the extension cannot exceed more than 4 years.
For defence secretary, forest secretary, home secretary, etc., or heads under Central Vigilance Commission, an extension of service of not more than 2 years can be granted, subject to case-by-case basis.
"However, the rules mentioned in the office memorandum did not specify anything about granting extension of service of CS post for a period of 6 months.
As such, it is questionable how the Manipur government notified the order for extension of service when it was not mentioned in the rules.
Did the government replace its decision of not reengaging retired government employees? If so, it should clarify the same in public domain", he asserted.
Further questioning why the CM is not standing by his own statements, Bhupendra said that there are many officials who are competent to hold the post of CS.
He then asked whether the govern -ment is against having a Muslim or a Christian CS.
This act of reengaging retired officials and hindering continuity will only dampen the spirit and demoralise the eligible officials, thereby preventing realisation of the concept of good governance.
"If the retired officials are re-engaged and given financial and signatory authority, thereby providing them with the financial power to withdraw funds, what does the government hope to achieve? Various capable additional chief engineers are being prevented from becoming chief engineers and showcasing their potential.
Similar situations are being witnessed in the other departments as well.
Both the central and state governments are continuously extending the service period after 60 years, which, in turn, is increasing corruption in the country and state," he stated.
Informing that the report on the PMGSY scam of Rs 1700 crore has been submitted to the Prime Minister, Bhupenda said MPCC president K Meghachandra is trying to expose many corrupt activities.
The service extension of top government officials including CS, directors and chief engineers is foreshadowing Manipur's future as the capital of corruption.
This is also showing the de-laying/preventing the promotion of many MPS/MCS officers.
Thus, such preferential treatment of services is a clear sigh of nepotism and increasing corruption levels in the state, he contended.