Allegations of bias against promotion of AEs in PWD

MAPUSA

Goa Shiv Sena (UBT) State President Jitesh Kamat has levelled serious allegations against the Public Works Department (PWD), accusing it of favouritism and illegal promotions.

Kamat has demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter and warned of legal action if no steps are taken within eight days.

Addressing a press conference, Kamat said that 98 officials – Junior Engineers and Technical Assistants – were recently promoted to Assistant Engineers, with 49 from regular service and another 49 from ad-hoc service.

While he raised no objection to the promotions of regular staff, he questioned the legality and fairness of the ad-hoc promotions, claiming they were done selectively to benefit a few.

“This is not just administrative misuse, it reeks of favouritism. It demands immediate investigation,” Kamat said.

He called on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also heads the PWD, to take responsibility and order an impartial probe.

He further alleged that 14 senior engineers from the regular cadre – some with over 15 years of service – were unfairly excluded from the promotions list. Among them, he noted, is the child of a freedom fighter.

“Our leaders today enjoy the fruits of freedom, but deny rightful dues to the children of those who fought for it. That’s not just injustice – it’s deeply insensitive,” he said.

Kamat also pointed out that one of the excluded engineers was hired at the age of 46 and denied promotion just before retirement.

Citing Supreme Court rulings, he argued that ad-hoc employees cannot be promoted over regular staff unless under project-based exigencies – if any exist.

The party has demanded cancellation of ad-hoc promotions, promotion of the 14 regular engineers and an official clarification from the PWD.

Kamat was joined by party functionaries Mehboob Melban, Pratik Shirodkar and Reshad D’Souza.