*Mode of recruitment to be specifically defined
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 4: In order to ensure that no more ‘illegal appointments’ are made in the Secretariat of Legislative Assembly and Council, the State Government has began exercise to update Recruitment Rules of both the Houses and fixed 15 days time-frame for submission of draft Rules to the Law Department for placing before the Standing Committee.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that the existing Recruitment Rules—J&K Assembly Secretariat (Recruitment and Conditions of Services) Rules and that of J&K Legislative Council were framed way back in 1959 and no serious efforts were made since then to update the same so as to ensure utmost transparency in carrying out recruitments in the Secretariat of both the Houses of State Legislature.
The major lacuna in the J&K Assembly Secretariat (Recruitment and Conditions of Services) Rules, 1959 is that they give powers to the Speaker to make appointments but the mode of making such appointments is not clear and this led to ‘illegal’ appointments by three former Speakers of the Legislative Assembly, which was explicitly established by the State Vigilance Organization.
About 15 years back, an exercise was initiated in the Legislative Assembly Secretariat and accordingly draft Recruitment Rules were framed, sources informed, adding even a formal proposal in respect of finalization of draft Recruitment Rules was forwarded to the Government in 2001 followed by chain of reminders but because of procrastination to finalize the draft Recruitment Rules, no fruitful results could be achieved.
Now after 15 years long deep slumber the Government has woken up from the deep slumber that too after much hue and cry over 37 ‘illegal’ appointments made by three former Speakers in Legislative Assembly Secretariat by taking advantage of silence of Recruitment Rules of 1959 on mode of making appointments, sources said.
According to the sources, Minister for Law and Justice, Abdul Haq Khan has directed the Secretaries of both the Houses to complete the exercise with regard to finalization of draft Recruitment Rules after holding detailed deliberations in the respective Secretariat of Legislative Assembly and Council and submit the draft Rules to the Law and Justice Department within a period of 15 days.
“They have specifically been asked to make sure that draft Rules clearly reflect the mode of recruitment for different category of posts so that utmost transparency is maintained in future appointments”, sources said, adding the Secretaries of Legislative Assembly and Council have further been asked to pay equal attention towards the promotional avenues of the employees of their respective Secretariat”.
In response to a question, they informed that on receipt of draft Recruitment Rules from the Legislative Assembly and Council Secretariat, the Law Department will scrutinize the same and thereafter place the same before the Standing Committee comprising of Administrative Secretary of ARI and Trainings Department, Secretary, General Administration Department and Secretary Law Department for final decision.
“The Standing Committee will also invite Secretaries of the Assembly and Council during its meeting to finalize the draft Recruitment Rules”, sources informed, adding “after the approval of Standing Committee the Recruitment Rules will be placed before the Chief Minister for accord of sanction”.
As already reported exclusively by EXCELSIOR, the State Vigilance Organization in its status report submitted to the J&K High Court has specifically mentioned that Government ought to have framed proper rules and selection procedure for recruitments in Assembly Secretariat.
It has also recommended that Government should frame rules for governing mode of selection/appointment of the candidates for filling up the posts/making appointments in Assembly Secretariat so that irregularities are not committed in future.
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