RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Oct.25: Chairman of the assembly committee constituted to review the promotion of ST/SC candidates in government service, Deepak Birua, today expressed his concern over the delay in implementation of the report.
Birua shared his concern with Lagatar24.com saying that ‘this is peculiar that executives are reviewing the report of legislators for the last eight months. It is like the high court reviewing the judgement of the Supreme Court.’
The report was given in February this year. It recommends stern action against the erring officials not just allowing promotions to eligible officials on merit but also reversing the promotions granted to people of general category.
The panel comprising Neelkanth Singh Munda and Sarfaraz Ahmed as members and Bandhu Tirkey as a special invitee also suggested punitive action against officials of various departments including the department of personnel and administrative reforms, who allowed promotions without norms.
The committee, which was constituted over a question by Tirkey during the budget session last year, also asked to file a case against erring officials under the SC and ST (prevention of atrocities) Act 1989.
“In 2008, senior officials from the SC/ST category were ignored during promotion and junior officers of the unreserved category were promoted. This wrong practice started so there is an urgent need for an impartial inquiry in the matter and those found guilty must be booked under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocity) Act,” the report suggests.
An official of the personnel department admitted the delay saying a three-member committee comprising personnel department principal secretary, welfare secretary and revenue secretary was appointed to study the report and they have to suggest how it is going to be implemented. “When their suggestions come, they will be implemented,” the official said.
Asked regarding any expected time for getting suggestions and implementation, the official said, ‘soon’ without giving any specific deadline.
Birua said the delay is not good. “Government cannot review the report of the assembly. If there is any fault in the report one can challenge it before the court. It is against the sanctity of the assembly and the speaker should write a second letter in the matter to the government,” he said.
