EC officials stuck in same posts for long

Many officials of the Election Commission (EC), being deprived of promotion, are languishing in same posts for long which has created grievances among them particularly senior assistant secretary and deputy secretary-level officials, reports UNB.
The promotion of the EC's own officials fell into the trap of legal complexities as the High Court stayed the promotion upon several writ petitions filed by some aggrieved officials challenging their gradation lists prepared by the commission. There is no single EC's official in any top post above deputy secretary --such as additional secretary, Joint Secretary, Regional Election Officer (REO) posts.
Even there is no possibility for any EC's deputy secretary to be promoted as joint secretary in the nearest future as the official will have to be promoted as REO first as per the Election Commission (Officials and Employees) Recruitment Rules 2008.
No EC official would be eligible to be promoted as its secretary as the post will be fulfilled only by a deputed government secretary according to the rules, which was amended last year keeping the scope for the deputed officials to be posted in 24 out of 36 different types of EC's first class posts, such as additional secretary, joint secretary, deputy secretary, director general and director. The secretary, the additional secretary and some joint secretary posts are gripped by deputed officials, which is one of the main barriers to building up an independent secretariat for EC, a constitutional body to oversee elections.
EC's officials are being deprived of promotion, though many top posts --Joint Secretary, REO, Deputy Secretary- remain vacant. At least four writ petitions were filed challenging the gradation lists, the High Court stayed the promotion upon two petitions, EC officials said.
The officials alleged that the EC is not sincere to contest the writ petitions wholeheartedly to vacate the court's stay orders as EC's top posts are now gripped by the deputed officials. There are only 13 EC's officials at the Deputy Secretary-level posts. Of them, one official has been languishing in the same post for last 17 years, while another for 14 years. Besides, five officials have been in deputy secretary posts for six years and six others for three years.
But an official who completed two years as Deputy Secretary and 12 years in the first class posts will be eligible to be promoted as REO, and an official who completed two years as REO and 15 years in the first class posts can be qualified to be joint secretary, according to the recruitment rules.

 

EC officials stuck in same posts for long

Many officials of the Election Commission (EC), being deprived of promotion, are languishing in same posts for long which has created grievances among them particularly senior assistant secretary and deputy secretary-level officials, reports UNB. The promotion of the ECs own officials fell into the trap of legal complexities as the High Court stayed the promotion upon several writ petitions filed by some aggrieved officials challenging their gradation lists prepared by the commission. There is no single ECs official in any top post above deputy secretary --such as additional secretary, Joint Secretary, Regional Election Officer (REO) posts. Even there is no possibility for any ECs deputy secretary to be promoted as joint secretary in the nearest future as the official will have to be promoted as REO first as per the Election Commission (Officials and Employees) Recruitment Rules 2008. No EC official would be eligible to be promoted as its secretary as the post will be fulfilled only by a deputed government secretary according to the rules, which was amended last year keeping the scope for the deputed officials to be posted in 24 out of 36 different types of ECs first class posts, such as additional secretary, joint secretary, deputy secretary, director general and director. The secretary, the additional secretary and some joint secretary posts are gripped by deputed officials, which is one of the main barriers to building up an independent secretariat for EC, a constitutional body to oversee elections. ECs officials are being deprived of promotion, though many top posts --Joint Secretary, REO, Deputy Secretary- remain vacant. At least four writ petitions were filed challenging the gradation lists, the High Court stayed the promotion upon two petitions, EC officials said. The officials alleged that the EC is not sincere to contest the writ petitions wholeheartedly to vacate the courts stay orders as ECs top posts are now gripped by the deputed officials. There are only 13 ECs officials at the Deputy Secretary-level posts. Of them, one official has been languishing in the same post for last 17 years, while another for 14 years. Besides, five officials have been in deputy secretary posts for six years and six others for three years. But an official who completed two years as Deputy Secretary and 12 years in the first class posts will be eligible to be promoted as REO, and an official who completed two years as REO and 15 years in the first class posts can be qualified to be joint secretary, according to the recruitment rules.