PANAJI
Over hundred-odd junior scale officers of Goa Civil Service, who had held or are holding the top position in various departments, were exempted from answering the inter-departmental exam during their promotion from feeder cadre or grade.
The relaxation was granted to ensure smooth continuity of administrative functioning and considering that the promoted officers have already undergone training and departmental examination in feeder cadre.
As per the information provided by the Personnel Department, 109 junior scale officers were granted the exemption.
An officer explained that as per Rule 23 sub-Rule (4) of the Goa Civil Service Rules, 2016, a probationer Junior Scale Officer who has attained the age of fifty years is exempted from passing the departmental examinations.
“From time to time, the government, as needed or considering the urgency, has relaxed the requirement of undergoing departmental examination as regards officers promoted from feeder grade,” the officer said.
The various reasons taken into account by the government for granting relaxation includes the long years of service put in by the promoted officers in the feeder cadre of Mamlatdar, Block Development Officer, Sales Tax Officer, etc. Also, these officers have already undergone training and departmental examination in feeder cadre before.
The officer said that the priority of the government is to ensure that functioning of State administration is not hampered due to deputation of officers for training. “We need to take into account all the facts like shortage of officers to take over the charge in the absence of the senior, if assigned for training. We just can’t let administration slow down,” officer said.
Apart from administrative exigencies, shortage of officers, the COVID pandemic also led to non-conduct of departmental examination during probation period.
