Service rules amendment review peeves many
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 04 2017:
Many employees have expressed strong disapproval against review of amendment service rules by the incumbent State Government which have been already approved by the State Cabinet and given concurrence by the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) .
The Manipur Secretariat Services Association has already served an ultimatum to the Chief Minister warning that they would be constrained to launch different modes of agitation if the State Government does not retract its step .
With a view to improve service conditions of MCS, MPS, MFS, MSS and Junior MCS officers, the Cabinet of the previous Government gave its consent to amend service rules of these organised services .
In addition to the State Cabinet's approval, amendment of service rules was also given concurrence by MPSC which is a Constitutional body .
It was essential to publish a notification in the State Gazette in order to put the Cabinet decision into practice.
However, no gazette notification has been issued till date on the matter, sources informed .
However, the new Government has started a process of reviewing the Cabinet decision of previous Government on the advice of some officials of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms .
Government or governance is a continuing process regardless of which party/parties is/are in power.
Reviewing a Cabinet decision which has been given concurrence by MPSC is something unprecedented, said the sources .
Department of Personnel is one key department of a Government but adoption of whimsical or ad-hoc decision is unbecoming of such a department, the sources said .
Meanwhile, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Personnel Division issued an order yesterday regarding examination of complaints about promotion avenues of organised services .
According to the order issued by the Joint Secretary (DP), a six-member high level committee headed by the Chief Secretary as chairman has been constituted to look into complaints of officers and other stake holders .
Other members of the committee are Additional Chief Secretary Shambhu Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Dr J Suresh Babu, DGP LM Khaute and PCCF K Angami .
The committee which should submit a report within a week would examine claims and counter-claims made by MCS, MPS, MSS, MFOS, MFIS and Junior MCS officers .
After examining the claims and counter-claims, the committee would furnish recommendations to resolve existing disputes over promotion between direct recruits and promotee officers .
The committee's recommendations would also be tabled before the State Cabinet, mentioned the order .
On the other hand, the Manipur Secretariat Services Association submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister on June 24 seeking amendment of Manipur Secretariat Service Rules, 1986 in order to resolve the disputes between direct recruits and promotee officers .
The memorandum pointed out that the previous State Cabinet gave its consent to amend the Manipur Secretariat Service Rules, 1986 and the same Cabinet decision was given concurrence by MPSC.
Moreover, the last Chief Minister had given his consent to publish a gazette notification on the matter .
However, some officers of the Department of Personnel have been working to get the Cabinet decision (of the previous Government) reviewed.
Such initiatives to review the Cabinet decision of amending service rules are unacceptable .
If the Government does not withdraw the initiative to review amendment of service rules, Manipur Secretariat Services Association would launch a strike without giving any further notice, mentioned the memorandum .
It also mentioned that the activities of some officers of the Department of Personnel may discredit the new Government.
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