PANAJI
In a move to rationalise its workforce in the computer-driven administrative system, the State government has decided to discontinue recruitment to the cadre of Junior Stenographer, with all existing posts to be automatically abolished as and when they fall vacant.
The Department of Personnel, through an Office Memorandum, has directed all government departments, corporations, autonomous bodies and public sector undertakings not to initiate any fresh recruitment to Junior Stenographer/Stenographer Grade-II posts. The decision, however, excludes the Judiciary and courts.
The government has cited changing administrative requirements and the reduced relevance of shorthand skills in the present computer era as the rationale behind the decision.
“In the today's computer era, where the typing is being done on computers, and the skill of short hand is hardly being put to use by the officers, the Government re-assessed the requirement of Junior Stenographer Grade-l posts in various Government Departments/Corporations/ Autonomous Bodies/ PSUs, etc,” Under Secretary (Personnel-II) Durga Kinlekar said.
As per the memorandum, Junior Stenographer/Stenographer Grade-II posts will stand automatically abolished immediately upon becoming vacant due to retirement, resignation, promotion, death, termination, dismissal or any other reason.
“Now, the Government has decided that no new recruitment to the cadre of Junior Stenographer shall be permitted to be initiated by any State Government Departments/Corporations/ Autonomous Bodies (except Judiciary/Courts). Consequently, all the existing posts of Junior Stenographer/Stenographer Grade II shall be abolished automatically immediately on the said posts becoming vacant in the concerned departments,” she added.
The concerned departments will be required to issue a formal order declaring the vacant post as deemed abolished within 60 days of the vacancy arising. They will also have to issue a separate order notifying the corresponding reduction in their sanctioned staff strength.
However, the decision will not affect employees currently serving in these posts. Existing incumbents will be allowed to continue until their superannuation or promotion to the next higher post, subject to the applicable hierarchy and recruitment rules.
The government has also clarified that higher posts such as Senior Stenographer/Stenographer Grade-I and other promotional posts will continue to exist. “The incumbents shall continue on their posts till they retire on superannuation or get promoted to the next higher level post available for them,” the OM stated.
However, promotional posts for which Junior Stenographer/Stenographer Grade-II is the sole feeder cadre will automatically lapse once no eligible employee remains in that feeder cadre.
