From Sannio C Siangshai
JOWAI: In what could be termed as a scam in the making, 19 persons have been allegedly given direct appointments to the post of Soil and Water Conservation Demonstrators (Jr) in the Soil and Water Conservation Department without following the mandatory selection procedures.
The District Selection Commission (DSC), West Jaintia Hills, recently advertised for various posts across departments and around 4000 people had applied for the same. The post for the Soil and Water Conservation Demonstrators (Jr) was also put up as vacant in the advertisement.
However, sources alleged that instead of going through the regular process of hiring, 19 candidates received their appointment letters to the post directly under 3(f) basis on December and joined office on January 2.
As per a government notification, direct recruitment of staff, be it on ad-hoc or 3(f) basis, by the district and subordinate officers with approval from any politician in various departments is illegal.
Government rules also state that all heads of the district, sub-divisional and subordinate offices should take prompt action to advertise the posts so that the District Selection Committee can make its recommendation and temporary appointments can be avoided.
The DSC in Jaintia Hills recently advertised to fill up various vacancies where not less than 4000 people have applied. The post of the Soil and Water Conservation Demonstrators have also been advertised the same.
“Appointment of Demonstrators under the Soil and Water Conservation Department must be recommended by the DSC and soon after they were appointed they are sent for training course at the Conservation Training Institute, Byrnihat”, a source said adding, “I could not understand why the concerned department appointed them directly despite the advertisement of the post by the DSC”.
Sources also alleged that the appointments were made urgently due to the forthcoming general Assembly election in the State.
“Once the Election Commission declared the date of polls, no developmental works, appointments or any government funds can be utilized, therefore, the department on the approval of some politicians have urgently appointed all 19 (persons),” sources alleged.