Civic body accused of ignoring recruitment rules while clearing promotions
MAPUSA
Just days before the expiry of its term, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) allegedly cleared the promotion of 11 employees in a move that has now come under scrutiny for purportedly violating the Recruitment Rules (RR) prescribed under the Goa Municipal Act.
The controversial decision was taken at a meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) held on May 22, barely four days before the council's tenure ended on May 26 and just before the State Government appointed an administrator to run the civic body.
Sources said the DPC approved promotions for 11 employees across various categories, including four junior clerks. While the promotions were reportedly based on the existing seniority list, certain discrepancies and corrections in the list were yet to be finalised, raising questions over whether the process was completed in accordance with prescribed norms.
The promotions have attracted criticism as they allegedly contravene the Recruitment Rules notified by the Directorate of Municipal Administration through a Government Gazette dated April 24, 1986. The rules stipulate that vacancies in Group C and Group D categories are to be filled through a 50:50 ratio of promotions and direct recruitment.
However, in the present case, all 11 vacancies were reportedly filled through promotions alone, effectively bypassing the direct recruitment component mandated under the rules.
"Filling all available vacancies exclusively through promotions amounts to a 100 per cent promotion quota, which is contrary to the existing Recruitment Rules," a source familiar with municipal administration norms said.
The three-member DPC was headed by MMC Chairperson Priya Mishal and included the Additional Director of Municipal Administration and the Chief Officer of the municipality as members.
Municipal sources pointed out that this is perhaps the first time in the history of the Mapusa Municipal Council that as many as 11 employees have been promoted in a single exercise, making the timing and manner of the decision even more contentious.
The development has triggered demands for the Directorate of Municipal Administration and the State Government to examine whether the promotions were granted in compliance with statutory provisions and whether the outgoing council exceeded its authority by pushing through the exercise on the eve of demitting office.
With the municipality now under an administrator, the legality and validity of the promotions are expected to come under the scanner in the coming days.
