Editor,
It would be utter favoritism if extension of service is given to the chief secretary who retires at the age of sixty unlike other officers who have to relinquish their position on attaining the age of superannuation no matter how competent and efficient they are in their service career. Retaining the service of an officer beyond the retirement age will adversely affect the prospects of persons in the lower grades in the direct line of promotion. Normally expectations of promotions, if delayed, affect the efficiency and morale of officers who are next in the merit list.
If the government is contemplating to extend the services of the Chief Secretary on the pretext of the upcoming elections, it would deeply hamper the spirit of other IAS officers and completely demoralize the Chief Electoral Officer.
Your’s etc.,
Eva Booth
Shillong- 3
II
Editor,
Apropos the news item “State government mulls six months extension to Chief Secretary” (ST 17th Dec 2013) the argument of the government that the extension is necessary because the present Chief Secretary can handle the upcoming elections is weak and pathetic. The person is due to retire on 31st December 2013. Surely the next person who will take over the post on 1st Jan 2014 would have sufficient time to prepare for the next election in the state due by mid February 2014 (going by the newspaper reports) . In any case the next incumbent would also be an IAS officer and these officers are supposed to be trained to handle any situation at any given point of time and one month’s time is more than sufficient. The elections are anyhow always well managed by the State election team which is headed by an IAS officer who is well in position now. Those in the government know this. The extension on the grounds given is therefore unfair and an insult to those who are in line. The India Today magazine once published that G.K Pillai, an IAS officer who held the post of Home Secretary in the Government of India paid the price by being upright .He was not given any posting after his retirement whereas quite a few of his pliable colleagues were immediately awarded with extensions or plum assignments post retirement. Back home, it is possible that the Chief Minister and his team are also having their way with less conflicts .Those in the bureaucracy and well informed people may be aware of this. No wonder the extension. Incidentally, a photograph in the same issue of the Shillong Times shows the long queue of consumers in the MeECL office paying their electricity bill which the newspaper stated as being a familiar sight but annoying no doubt because no fresh initiatives have been taken to stop this. In fact, the MeECL has always been in the news for the wrong reasons down the years and our very own present Chief Secretary has continuously been Chairman there too. Would it be a comfort to those in government to give him extension there as well? The problem is that the Chief Minister thinks he is too clever as always and thinks that the people are dumb and can be taken for a ride throughout. Rather his colleagues are dumb if they go along with him on that same extension logic. In fact they seems to have got dumber and dumber with no mind of their own. Again what happens if this very same Chief Secretary takes long leave during the elections as he did last time because of the possibility of involvement of his relatives in the District Council elections? Would this extension be worthwhile? Big joke indeed ! So here’s wishing our ever mighty Chief Minister and our ever obedient Ministers a happy and humorous New Year.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request.
III
Editor,
On the issue of extension of the services of the present Chief Secretary we wait to see if the Government will go against the voice of the people who in the past have always vehemently opposed such extensions. Knowing the arrogance of the present Chief Minister there is every probability that he might go ahead and will not give heed to any opposition. This may invite fresh agitations which the government could well do without if it follows the regular procedure .However, such extension of service will also depend on the willingness of the person who is due to get the extension. His conscience will tell him as to whether it would be right for him to take away even for a short time the right of his own colleagues who are due for promotion. It is hoped that good sense prevail as in a Christian state we would prefer that our public servants be it politicians or bureaucrat should respect the right of others so that everyone is justifiably rewarded.
Yours etc.,
Robert Sawkmie,
Shillong-4