Srinagar, Apr 26: The reservation quota system for recruitment to government services and promotions now seems to be applicable for transfers as well.
 Reasons: The Power Development Department has posted Junior Engineers as per categories drawing flak from various quarters.
 The Power Development Commissioner vide order No 116-DCP of 2010 dated April 20 has posted 230 Junior Engineers (Electrical) as per the category.
 There’s a separate section of postings under the categories like Open Merit, RBA Category, SC Category, ST Category, ST Category and OSC.
 The candidates were appointed in the department last year, but till now had been on temporary postings with the Maintenance and Rural electrification wings of PDD in Kashmir and Jammu provinces.
 Officials smell in a rat in the classification for the postings pleading that this has “never been a rule, convention or practice in the government services”. They fear the move was aimed to “unduly benefit” the reserved category candidates.
 “This is a deliberate attempt to create a situation where postings on category system will become a convention,” said a middle rung PDD official. Ironically, his juniors at the time of appointment having category status have superseded him to the level of chief engineers.
 “This is the case with many of us that we lag behind in promotions and now if transfers too have the category system, the open merit officials will have to suffer on another front,” said an official. He said if category was for postings, then those selected under different categories should be posted to the area where form he got he benefit.
 “RBA should work in his area and serve his community,” an official said.
 When contacted the Power Development Commissioner, Azghar Ali said the category system was kept irrespective of giving benefit to the candidates. “We prepared the list on the order of their appointment and maintained the same so that nobody is dropped,” he said adding, “actual posting will be done by the concerned wing.”
 He said if postings were to be done on merit basis then the important posts should go to open merit candidates.
 “In our case, however, category is no criteria for the postings.”

Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST