Call for removal of retired employees from JHADC

SHILLONG:  A pressure group from Jaintia Hills has opposed the decision of the JHADC to appoint the retired staff on ‘contractual basis’ in the Council, terming it as gross violation of the service rules.
“The Council is not allowed to appoint any retired staff on contractual basis as per the service rules of the JHADC,” president of an organisation called Chdooh Ri Jaintia Wa Maia (CRJWM), Wandahun Suchiang told newsmen here on Monday adding that retired employees were enjoying the same perks and benefits as regular staff.
Suchiang said that as per RTI findings, five retired employees, including three who retired from the JHADC, were appointed on contractual basis.
The five include retired secretaries of the Executive Committee of the Council, L.P. Nongpluh and B. Pachiang Sutnga, retired JHADC District Council Court Judge, J. Khyriem, retired Secretary Planning Department, Government of Meghalaya, H.B. Dkhar and retired Senior Divisional Accountant PWD, P. Laloo.
Nongpluh has been appointed as Principal Secretary on a salary of Rs.50, 000 per month, Sutnga was appointed as Officer on Special Duty with a salary of Rs.45,000 per month, Khyriem has been appointed as Judge, District Council Court, and takes home a salary of Rs.40, 000 per month, Dkhar is a Planning Adviser and gets a salary of Rs.40, 000 per month while Laloo, who is appointed as Accounts Officer, is also getting the same salary.
“All the five retired employees are also getting maintenance allowances of Rs.10, 000 each per month,” the leader of the organisation said.
Stating that this was wastage of public money, she said that the CRJWM had earlier  met the JHADC CEM on the issue but the latter had lied to them on the salary given to the five people.
“The CEM had told us that the appointees receive only Rs.10, 000 per month plus allowances,” Suchiang said, while adding that they had asked the CEM to remove the five retired employees within ten days.
She further said that they will be forced to take recourse to stringent measures if the CEM failed to comply with their demand within the given deadline.