Service extension violates rights of employees
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 24 2024: Extension of services of employees of different posts particularly head of departments and other top posts after service superannuation under the state government's policy from time to time not only deprives employees from getting promotion but also violates rights of subordinate employees.

The posts of chief engineers of some engineering departments and head of department of some are being held by retired employees after their service period were extended by the government by issuing relevant orders with subordinate employees apprehensive of further extension of services of retired employees holding top posts.

During his first term as chief minister, N Biren declared that government will not extend services of retired employees or re-engage them except for some technical departments or posts having issues of replacement.

However, top posts of some departments are being held by retired employees even though the posts could be easily manned by subordinate employees.

Few years back, state government extended superannuation age for college teachers from 60 to 65 years and 60 to 62 years for those in medical profession particularly doctors.

However, there has been no extension of superannuation age for employees in other departments.

As per Fundamental Rules and Supplementary Rules (FRSR) of the department of personnel and training under grievances and pension of the Ministry of Personnel, superannuation age for specialists in medical and scientific field could be extended up to 62 years.

The FRSR mandated that reasons for service extension must also be brought out if service extension was done in public interest and services of exceptional and globally renowned scientists could be extended up to the maximum of 64 years.

However, there seems to be a trend of extending services of some employees holding top posts in Manipur by undermining the FRSR and employees opposing service extension of retired employees holding top posts had even lodged complaints in law courts in recent past.

Notably, a petition was filed at the High Court of Manipur against service extension of executive engineer (electrical) of Public Works Department named N Rajen, whose superannuation age lapsed on February 8, 2014 .

A single bench of the then justice N Kotiswar of the same court in February, 2015 ruled service extension N Rajen unreasonable and invalidated the order.

Meanwhile, a source informed that External Aided Project (EAP) of state PWD and incumbent chief engineer cum project director of PWD Y Joykumar continues to hold the post though his service age ended in 2022 by extending his service for two years.

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