Formed After HC Rap, Panel Also Tasked To Find Reasons For Such Practice
Srinagar, Dec 31 (GNS): Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday formed group of officers for proposing a roadmap for putting an end to the practice of making adhoc promotions in various Departments.
The group comprising administrative secretaries of Finance, Public works, GAD, Jal Shakti, ARI &Training besides Law Justices and Parliamentary Affairs, has been also tasked with to examine the reasons behind prevalent and continuing system of making adhoc promotions in Government Departments. It has been also asked to examine the issues and bottlenecks confronted by the Departments in making regular promotions as well as propose a way forward for stopping the practice.
“It is further ordered that the group of officers shall be serviced by the General Administration Department and shall submit its report within a period of four weeks,” the order, a copy of which lies with GNS, added.
The government orders follow reprimand by the high court earlier this year, saying that adhocism is resorted to despite depreciated by the Supreme Court way back in 2000.
“What is seen in the then State of J&K and now the Union Territory of J&K is that the judgment of the Supreme Court is being complied with less and violated more, as practically in all the departments, promotions are being made on incharge basis,” the court had said, adding, “This practice is prevalent more in Engineering Department. The reasons therefor are not unknown.”How an employee, who is substantively working on the lowest post, can be given the charge of a highest post in the department without there being regular promotions, the court had questioned. “No one knows their seniority position. It is the local adjustment made claiming that he is senior most available and there being a vacancy, he should be given charge of that,” the court had said, stressing that these employees continue working on that post for years together and whenever any transfer is sought to be made, they approach the court and persuade to grant interim relief and as a result of that, continue on the same position for years together.
“This course adopted by the different departments is generating avoidable litigation as many of the employees approach the court raising the plea that they are senior to the person who has been given charge of some higher post,” the court said, adding, “Not only this such a course also demoralizes other employees in the department. This is resulting in adhocism in the working of different departments of the government.”
The court had said that the Supreme Court in 2000 ordered constitution of a High Level Committee to be appointed to examine the entire issue. (GNS)