“Helpers” of Skill Development Deptt are sanguine to learn that Govt works under rule of law

Truth prevails!

JJ CORRESPONDENT

Jammu, Jul 20: The injustice wreaked with the helpers has hit the headlines of Jammu Jottings and very startling revelations were made. This newspaper published a story about “Helpers” … a tale of woe. It highlighted that seniority has not been considered as basis for promotion to class 4th posts of Helpers by the Establishment Section. Also it focussed on the fact that Govt. Order No. 257 F of 2008 Dated. 03-09-2008 has been completely sidelined by the Directorate with regard to the promotion of Helpers. Those promoted as Jr. Assistants instead of class 4th were given in-situ promotion by the DPC and as such tried to camouflage the omissions and commissions of the irregularities committed while misusing their official positions. The news paper further, quoting the Helpers, wrote that the Govt. had issued an order to keep the illegally given promotions in abeyance. But the said order was not available with the Helpers when the story was given to the Correspondent of the daily Jammu Jottings.
Now the story is developing further when the concerned Helpers came up with the Govt. Order No. 55 Edu (Tech) of 2013 Dated 08-03-2013 by Bipul Pathak, IAS, Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. Technical Education Department (SDD). The relevant portion of the Order reads as “In respect of ITI sector the incumbents who have already been brought to the regular establishment from time to time illegally without the prior approval of the Administrative Department/Finance Department, their orders are hereby kept in abeyance with immediate effect and all those cases shall be brought before the above committee by Directorate of Technical Education. The above Committee shall examine all such cases as per the guidelines issued by the Finance Department vide Govt. Order No. 257- F of 2008 Dated 03-09-2008 and submit its report/recommendations to the Govt against which the matter shall be referred to the Finance Department.”
The compositions of the Committee are as- Deputy Secretary to Govt. Technical Education Department; FA/CAO, Technical Education Department; and representative from Directorate of Technical Education Department. (Not below the rank of Principal).
The order is self-explanatory and crystal clear. It was issued in 2013. Till date it has been kept hidden by the Directorate and not implemented. Instead, those benefitted illegally have further been provided a chance to file a suit against the Department to try to legalise the irregularity in their favour. State Exchequer has been looted knowingly and deliberately. Three posts of Junior Assistants held by Khan, Badyari and Mohd Fateh are already held substantively by GN Darzi, Muzaffar Sultan and Reyaz Budroo. It is double drawl for two decades. Even In-situ promotions have been given to illegally promoted Helpers, after issuance of Govt. Order No. 257-F of 2008. Not an iota of regard and respect has been shown for rule of law. It is heartbreaking when the “Helpers” narrate that they are the lowest rung category of employees and their job is to clean the tables or dust the chairs or help the permanent class 4th employees to clean the tools, equipments in the labs or workshops but the treatment given to them is now open to all and one. A good number retired as Helpers and others are at the verge of retirement. To influential one’s others are subordinates now. Those benefitted are a “protected” lot kept in prime offices for duty and others humiliated by disregarding their toil in the sub-offices.
They have appealed to the Govt. in general and Principal Secretary, Skill Development in particular that justice be done with them. The officers involved in such crimes should be exposed in the public. The Administrative Department of SDD and Finance Department should play their role. The Accounts wing of the Directorate, SDD, should stop the pay of all those promoted illegally till final decision by the Finance Department, in light of Govt. Order 257-F of 2008 Dated 03-09-2008.