Service regularization only for Sikkim Subjects

GOVT SPELLS OUT NUMBER OF FIELD VISITS REQUIRED PER WEEK FROM GOVT SERVANTS - RANJIT SINGH

GANGTOK, 11 June: While the regularization process of over 6000 temporary employees has been “kept in abeyance” by the State government it has now been announced that services of only those temporary employees holding Sikkim Subject Certificates or Certificates of Identification will be regularized. While this is a standard practice for all appointments to government service, it has been reiterated in the present case since regularization formalities were reportedly completed for several who did not have CoI’s.

The Chief Minister had announced regularization of all Muster Roll and Work Charged employees having put in more than 15 and 10 years of service in two batches; this announcement had been made before the elections and a notification to the effect had also been issued. Subsequently the regularization process had been put in abeyance till further notice.

While the regularization of MR and WC employees is still in abeyance it has now been decided that only those with valid local documents will be regularized. This order was issued last week by the Home Department. It is probably the scrutiny process required to identify those who possess local documents and those who don’t which is to blame for the current suspension of the regularization process.

In the first phase, a total of 4,002 MR and WC employees had been approved for regularization. These were from the batch which had put in 15 or more years of service. In the second phase, another 1,533 temporary workers were approved for regularization after having put in between 10 to 15 years of service.

As of now no temporary employee has been regularized, it is informed.

The same order [making SSC/ CoI mandatory for service regularization] also directs that the Roster System be followed by the concerned departments while implementing the regularization process of ad hoc and MR employees.

Meanwhile, the State government, in the same order, has also directed that government employees will not be issued trade licenses or taxi permits either. This restrictive order means that government employees cannot conduct any other trade besides their current employment. Interestingly, even this is a standing service clause but was clearly being violated. As per extant rules, a person, before joining regular government service, is required to surrender [in case they possess] taxi registrations, contractor license, trade license etc.

Further tightening the reins on government employees with the implicit intent to ensure better service delivery the government has directed all senior touring and field officers in the level of Superintending Engineers and equivalent to visit sites and conduct field visits twice a week.

Field officers of the level of Divisional Engineers are now required to visit the field thrice a week as per government diktats while those in the levels of AE, JE, AEO, APO, Medical Officers, Inspectors are to conduct field visits 4 times a week.

If that was not enough to put the fear of god into the employees it has also been directed that all files are to be cleared within 24 hours.