New Year begins with some transfers and slew of promotions

GANGTOK, 10 Jan: The Department of Personnel began the new year with a flurry of office orders announcing promotions and transfers.
In an office order issued on 05 January, Chief Engineer [Electrical], Energy & Power Department, G Targain, was promoted as PCE-cum-Secretary, Energy &Power Department. The promotion is on officiating capacity, necessitated by the demise of the incumbent AK Giri. The office order in question details that regular promotion shall be made in consultation with the Sikkim Public Service Commission.
Changes at the Head of Department level continued on 09 January when Principal Secretary-cum-Development Commissioner, Development Planning, Economic Reforms & NECA Department, AK Yadav, was transferred and posted as Principal Secretary, Excise (Abk) Department, exchanging places with Nim Yethenpa who is the new Development Commissioner now.
The same day, Monalisa Dash of the IFS cadre currently posted as Joint Secretary, Chief Minister’s Office was transferred and posted as Joint Resident Commissioner, Sikkim House, New Delhi. Meanwhile, the Assistant Resident Commissioner, Sikkim House, New Delhi, Marcus Prabal Rai, has been transferred and posted as Under Secretary, Tourism &Civil Aviation Department, Gangtok, on deputation.
There have been a series of promotions in the Sikkim Police as well with DSPs Dhiren Lama and Sonam Pintso Bhutia promoted to the rank of Additional Superintendents of Police on officiating capacity from the date of joining.
Meanwhile three Police Inspectors –Kul Bhadur Gadaily, Renu Raj Chettri and Santosh Kumar Pradhan – have been promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendents of Police.
Continuing with promotions, Trilochan Sharma, Additional Secretary, Department of Personnel, has been elevated to the Supertime Grade-II of the Sikkim State Civil Service in the PB-4-Rs.32000-60000 and GP of Rs.9000/-,as Special Secretary, in an officiating capacity with immediate effect.
At the Health Department, sixteen personnel of Sikkim State Sub-ordinate Para Medical Service (Technicians Grade-I) have been promoted as Technical Officers (Non-medical) in the Junior Grade of Sikkim State Para Medical Service. The sixteen are: Dadi Ram Dhakal, Ram Prasad Dhakal, Anil Pakhrin, Purna Singh Subba, Sancharaj Subba, Khemraj Koirala, Dalman Gurung, Ramesh Dahal, Bhaichung Bhutia, Indra Kumar Chettri, Bhawani Dhakal, Suraj Kumar Sujee, Love Mohora, Tashi Dorjee Bhutia, J.P.Uniyal and Tulshi Sharma.
Still at the Health Department, two doctors - Dr. Sandeep Pradhan and Dr. Sarita. Gurung – have been promoted, on the recommendation of the SPSC, to Consultant Grade-II (Dental) in the Selection Grade-II with immediate effect.
The promotion of Tashi Wangmu Sherpa and Shiromani Neopaney as Deputy Labour Commissioners on officiating capacity has also, on the recommendation of SPSC, been made on substantive capacity.
Similarly, Additional Director, Food Security and Agriculture Development Department, YK Pradhan, has been promoted as Director in the PB-4 of RS.32000-60000 and GP of Rs.9000 in the Sikkim State Agriculture Service with immediate effect.
Still at the Agriculture Department, seven Deputy Directors have been elevated to the rank of Joint Directors with immediate effect. They are: Tshering Phuti Bhutia, Palzor Namgyal, Namgay Dorjee, Mani Kumar Pradhan, Sherab Tshering Bhutia, Navin Karki and Asha Lama.
Meanwhile, Dr. LD Lepcha, Mission Director (NRHM), Health Department, has been promoted as Principal Director-cum-Mission Director (NRHM) in an officiating capacity with immediate effect.
Also at the Health Department, Assistant Director [Sanitation], Thotup Targain, has been promoted as Deputy Director (Sanitation) in an officiating capacity.

State directs DoP to ensure strict compliance of pension rules

THREE-MEMBER COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED FOR SWIFT SETTLEMENT OF CASES
GANGTOK, 08 Oct: The State government appears piqued at the ‘unauthorized’ withdrawal of pensions by (ex) government employees and has now stamped its foot down on what can be termed as pecuniary loss to the state exchequer due to this.
In a stern move, the Department of Personnel has been charged with strict compliance of this aspect of the right to withhold pension on the part of the government. In fact a 3-member committee has been constituted in the department headed by the Special Secretary to “...ensure strict compliance of Chapter VII of Sikkim Service (Pension) Rules, 1990...”
The committee has been especially constituted to deal with the settlement of retirement benefits pertaining to Group ‘B’ employees and above and also officials posted at the Department of Personnel. The government has gone so far as to hold the committee to account for any delay in settling of retirement cases in the prescribed time limit.
There have been grievances voiced by employees that retirement benefits are not processed in due time and that there is an ‘inadvertent’ time gap before which they can access their due pension benefits. In fact this has been a standing grievance of ex-employees for a long time now and which had not been responded to with any positive action by the government till now.
Taking the bull by the horns the government has directed that “... the Committee shall be responsible for any delay on the part of the department for not settling the retirement cases in prescribed time limit and liable for appropriate action deemed fit for such omission”.
On the other hand the committee has been ordered to ensure strict compliance with Chapter VII of the Pension Rules. As per this section the government reserves the right of withholding or withdrawing a pension or gratuity of part thereof and also of ordering recovery from a pension or gratuity of any pecuniary loss to the government. This particularly refers to those cases where there are departmental or judicial proceedings in which the pensioner has been found guilty of grave misconduct during the period of his service rendered upon re-employment after retirement.
Interestingly, as per the rules, a Class I officer taking up commercial employment within 2 years of his/ her retirement and without prior permission of government can be disallowed his pension. If such a person has acquired prior permission and is drawing higher salary than at the time of his retirement his pension is liable to be reduced and rendered inadmissible for the period of his employment.
Also in the committee are the Joint Secretary and Under Secretary of the concerned sections.  The Office Superintendent / Head Assistant of the concerned section shall assist the committee.

DoP introduces time-bound promotion scheme for police personnel

GANGTOK, 17 July: There has been much consternation and dissatisfaction among members of the State Police service over promotions and while much of the dissent over this matter never spilled out into the open there was disgruntlement within the ranks over the issue of long pending promotions especially those in the lower ranks; the petition filed by Adup Tshering also added to the consternation. However, the State government, through the Department of Personnel, has now issued a scheme of time-bound promotion for those in the state police service from Constable to Assistant Sub Inspectors. 
As per the scheme, a Constable is to be promoted to the rank of Lance Naik on completion of 10 years of service; a Lance Naik will be accorded the rank of Naik on completion of 5 years of service and a Naik is to be promoted to the rank of Head Constable on completion of 5 years. On completion of 5 years, a Head Constable will be entitled to promotion to the rank of Assistant Sub Inspector.
Furthermore, and what should also bring cheer to the police ranks, these promotions up to the post of ASI will be on a time bound basis and not linked to any vacancy. Needless to add, most of the force in the lower ranks is pleased with the issuance of this order of the state government.
On the other hand the department has also notified the scales of pay to the members of the State Police Service as follows: a PI is entitled to Pay Band-2 of Rs. 9300-34800 & Grade Pay of Rs. 5000 as admissible to Under Secretary in the State Civil Service which is already availed by the Inspector of Police.
A DSP is entitled to Pay Band-2 of Rs. 9300-34800 & Grade Pay of Rs. 5400 which is already availed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police; ASPs are entitled to Pay Band-3 of Rs. 15600-39100 & Grade Pay of Rs. 6200 as admissible to Deputy Secretary in the State Civil Service which is already availed by the Additional Superintendent of Police; an SP is entitled to Pay Band-3 of Rs. 15600-39100 & Grade Pay of Rs. 7200 as admissible to Joint Secretary in the State Civil Service; SSPs are entitled to Pay Band-3 of Rs. 15600-39100 & Grade Pay of Rs. 8700 as admissible to Additional Secretary in the State Civil Service and officer in the rank of a DIG is entitled to Pay Band-4 of Rs. 37400-67000 & Grade Pay of Rs. 9000 as admissible to Special Secretary in the State Civil Service.

High Court initiates Contempt proceedings against DoP officer

GANGTOK, 29 May: The division bench of the Sikkim High Court has initiated Contempt proceedings against Additional Secretary, Department of Personnel, Trilochan Sharma, for violating the High Court order to not give effect to the transfer order served on Special Commissioner, Commercial Tax Division, HB Rai, Special Commissioner Commercial Rax Division, Finance Revenue and Expenditure Department, until his petition was disposed off.
Mr. Rai had been transferred out as Registrar, Sikkim Manipal University, on 28 November 2011. The High Court had impugned this order on 14 March 2012 and directed the DoP not to give effect to it until disposal of the case. The Department initially abided by the Court order and issued an order on 04 April allowing Mr. Rai to continue as Special Commissioner.
However, on 11 May, 2012, the Department withdrew the last order allowing Mr. Rai to continue as Special Secretary. “This amounts to put in operation the original order of transfer dated 28.11.2011 which had been stayed by this Court in presence of Mr. Karma Thinlay Namgyal, learned Govt Advocate on 14.03.2012,” the High Court Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice Permod Kohli and Justice SP Wangdi records in its order of 22 May.
The division bench has now issued notice to the Additional Secretary to show cause “why rule be not framed against him and he be punished for Contempt of Court”. The officer was directed to appear in person before the Court on 29 May.
The Court was not satisfied with the affidavit filed by the Additional Secretary today, and the Government Advocate withdrew the affidavit and will now be submitting a fresh affidavit as per the directions of the Court.