HSPDP legislator raises contractual appointment issue in Assembly

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

Shillong, Sept 12:  Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), legislator from Nongkrem, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, during the question hour of the Assembly today raised the issue of contractual appointments in various state government departments. While replying to a supplementary question Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma, who also holds the charge of Personnel department, informed the House that contractual appointment in various department is temporary and it will not replace the regular appointment. “It is important for the departments to furnish information pertaining to vacancies to the District Selection Committees (DSCs) or the Meghalaya Public Selection Commission (MPSC),” Dr Sangma said. The Chief Minister also said that contractual appointment has been resorted for certain centrally sponsored schemes and in such cases there is no such post which has been created. “Therefore, the appointment resorted to is presumed appointment for a specific scheme and it is supposed to be co-terminus with the programme,” he added. Meanwhile, Basaiawmoit wanted to know from Chief Minister about regular posts which become vacant and are subsequently filled up on  contractual basis. Dr Sangma reiterated that in respect to the regular posts which are vacant, they are invariably required to be filled up either through the recommendations of the DSCs or the MPSC.

“It is incumbent upon the concerned Departments to furnish before the DSCs or MPSC to proceed with the recruitment process for the exact number of vacancies,” the Chief Minister added.

Further Basaiawmoit wanted know what action will be taken against departments which fail to comply with such orders resulting in successful candidates being deprived of jobs.

Dr Sangma admitted that the government been confronted with such a situation wherein candidates who have been listed as successful either by the DSCs or the MPSC, are not appointed due to non-availability of vacancies or posts.

“Therefore, the DSCs or MPSC while advertising should tell the exact vacancies and results also should be declared which commensurate to the number of vacancies,” Dr Sangma added.

Earlier, the Chief Minister informed that contractual appointments were first taken up way back in 1979 and this has been continuing in order to ensure appointment for specific purpose of Central schemes so that the government gets the required man-power for such schemes.