When lawmakers bend the rules...

Casual employees

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, June 28: How far are our lawmakers aware about following laws made by the Assembly?  The question arises with the information coming to light that as many as 30 persons were engaged as daily wage employees at Assembly Secretariat, a place where laws are made, during the tenure of former Assembly Speaker Prab Kumar Gogoi, without following any appointment procedure. Sources said these 30 persons were engaged as daily wage employees in the Assembly Secretariat early this year just before the model code of conduct came into force for the ensuing elections.

“They were appointed without approval of the Fince department. Their wages were given from the contingency fund of the Assembly which is against the existing appointment procedure of the government,” said sources.

They added that these 30 employees were engaged without issuing any advertisement.

“There were even allegations of nepotism in the engagement procedure,” he said.

Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Ranjit Das has ordered Assembly Principal Secretary to release these employees by June 30, after the matter came to his notice, sources said.

Confirming the development, Assembly Principal Secretary Mrigen Deka said, “Yes, I have received an instruction from the Speaker in this regard. We will release them accordingly by June 30.”

Sources said that these 30 people were engaged as daily wage employees with full knowledge of then Assembly Speaker Gogoi.  “An additiol secretary of the ALA took the initiative to engage them as daily wage employee in Assembly Secretariat flouting the appointment procedures,” added the sources.