CAP takes up ‘MLA recommendation’ issue with CS

No such rule exists, Govt must issue a circular within 72 hours: Ganesh

GANGTOK,: Citizen Action Party (CAP) Sikkim on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to State chief secretary VB Pathak here at Tashiling Secretariat over the alleged mandatory ‘MLA’s recommendation’ for job regularisation and payment of contractors’ bills.

The CAP Sikkim delegation was led by party’s chief coordinator Ganesh K. Rai.

Speaking to the media after submitting the representation, the CAP Sikkim chief coordinator said the party would be visiting Tashiling Secretariat again if the government does not take action within 72 hours to stop such unconstitutional practices. He added that the chief secretary has assured a response to the party’s demands after taking up the complaints with the department concerned.

“Those temporary government employees who are eligible for regularisation are being asked to obtain letter of recommendations from their area MLA. Some are getting the recommendations and some are being denied by their MLAs. We asked the chief secretary if there is any official government order stating that MLA recommendation is required for regularisation and if so, to produce the particular order. However, the chief secretary clearly told us that there is no government notification requiring MLA recommendation for service regularisation. He has assured us to take this matter with the department concerned and update us,” said Rai.

“During the meeting, we also showed the Service Rules book to the chief secretary and told him that there is no such rule that a MLA recommendation is needed (for service regularisation). This is being done by the MLAs merely to show their superiority,” said the CAP Sikkim leader.

“Similarly, we submitted to the chief secretary that contractors are being told to get the MLA recommendation for payment of their bills. The chief secretary stated that there is no such rule. We have also sought clarification and needful action from the chief secretary on this,” said Rai.

The CAP Sikkim, in its representation, has demanded the chief secretary to issue a circular within 72 hours clarifying the non-requirement of such recommendations so as to provide relief to the temporary employees and contractors.

If no such circular comes in 72 hours, we will again come here before the chief secretary’s office and decide our future course of action, said the CAP Sikkim leader.

Rai contended that several eligible temporary government employees are not getting the MLA recommendation just because they or their family members did not vote for the particular MLA’s party. “On what basis the MLAs are saying this? No one knows who gave the vote to whom,” he questioned.