Associations to contest Bihar govt’s decision

ORDER NDA government in Bihar has decided that inefficient government employees over 50 years of age be removed under the “compulsory retirement” provision amid coronavirus impact

PATNA: The two principal service organisations of Bihar, the Bihar Administrtative Service Association (BASA) and Bihar Engineering Service Association (BESA), have decided to contest the July 23 state government notification to review the perf o r mance of officials and employees who are above 50 years or who have completed 30 years of service.

The NDA government in Bihar has decided that inefficient government employees over 50 years of age be removed under the “compulsory retirement” provision amid coronavirus impact.

The general administration department (GAD) had asked t he departments t o hold a screening committee meeting each year to review the performance of officials and employees.

The notification stated that the decision on compulsory retirement would also take into consideration the work done by employees in the past years. “Under the process, all those employees who are above the age of 50 and who have completed 30 years will be screened out and considered for compulsory retirement,” said a general administration department official.

“The work of all levels of personnel will be reviewed every year. Such a system is already in force in the central government, but for the first time in the state government, such a system is

The notification is indicative of stepmotherly treatment meted to other services by state government and the decision seems to have been taken to strengthen role of a particular service. VISHWABANDHU RAJIV RANJAN, BESA general secretary

being implemented for administrative reforms.” said the official.

According to the notification issued by the government, this rule has been applied to all categories of government employees, except all-india service officers.

“This provision in due course of time is going to prove fatal for free and fair of administration in Bihar. We are going to challenge this in high court and will also seek other legal remedies,” said Anil Kumar, general secretary of BASA, which has strength of 1,275 officers in state.

“The notification is indicative of step-motherly treatment meted to other services by state government and the decision seems to have been taken to strengthen role of a particular service,” said BESA general secretary Vishwabandhu Rajiv Ranjan.

Demanding immediate withdrawal of the notification, the BESA office-bearer said that it has several insulting provisions. The BESA alleged that three association members working with building construction department of the state were removed under the new provisions.

The BESA has a strength of approximately 3,000 engineers many of which nearly 1,336 engineers are above 50 years of age, whereas 250 officers of BASA in the age bracket of 50 plus.

Both BESA and BASA said that instead of forming a committee to review such matters, the powers of such decisions have been vested in a committee headed by additional chief secretary/principal secretary/secretary, which is illegal. Also, the provisions of the notification has left little scope f or j udicial review, said the office-bearers.

“The notification does not give armoury in the hands of state government but in the hands of arrogant officials who can damage anybody,” said the BASA general secretary. “We demand immediate withdrawal of notification and government should also consider previous service record of the employee as well.”