Uttarakhand: Revised service manual prepared for recruitment in Vidhansabha Secretariat

Revised service rules have been prepared for recruitment in the Vidhansabha Secretariat. The cabinet sought clarity on some of its points. On this, the assembly secretariat has now sent the revised proposal to the cabinet. It is believed that in the next meeting of the Dhami cabinet, the amendment in the Assembly Recruitment Service Rules will be approved.

Last year, after the matter of ad hoc appointments in the Vidhansabha caught fire, Vidhansabha Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan constituted a committee under the chairmanship of retired IAS DK Kotia to investigate the matter. After receiving the report of the Kotia Committee, the services of 228 ad hoc personnel appointed in the Vidhansabha Secretariat from 2016 to 2021 were terminated. Along with this, the then Secretary (Joint Secretary after being demoted) Mukesh Singhal was suspended.

At the same time, the dismissed personnel challenged the decision of the Speaker in the court, but they could not get relief. Meanwhile, the need for amendment in the service rules for recruitment in the assembly was also felt. In fact, the Service Recruitment Rules of the Legislative Assembly were made in the year 2011, in which amendments were made in the year 2016. The provision of ad-hoc appointment in the rules had increased the most problems. In view of all this, on the instructions of the Assembly Speaker, a proposal for amendment in the service rules was prepared and sent to the government.

Sources said that the Law and Personnel Department was consulted at the government level and then consent was given to amend the rules. Along with this, seeking information on some points, the proposal was returned to the assembly. The Vidhansabha Secretariat had made this information available to the government, but then the cabinet sought clarity on some points.

Sources said that now the proposal to amend the rules has been sent again. According to the sources, in the proposal for amendment in the service rules sent to the government, the system of ad-hoc appointment has been abolished and emphasis has been laid on direct recruitment through State Public Service Commission and Subordinate Service Commission instead. Apart from this, other points including the appointment of assembly secretary, administrative department to legislative have also been included.

A proposal has been prepared and sent to the government in view of amendment in the Recruitment Service Rules of the Vidhansabha. In this, special emphasis has been laid on cleanliness and transparency in recruitment. Now the cabinet has to take a decision in this regard. – Ritu Khanduri Bhushan, Speaker Assembly