New Delhi (09.02.2022): Union Minister of State for Personnel Dr. Jitendra Singh today held a detailed and comprehensive meeting with a delegation of officers from the CSS Forum which has been highlighting through Twitter and other media campaigns the gross state of promotional avenues for CSS cadre officers who are considered as the backbone and institutional memory of the central bureaucracy.
While it goes to the credit of Dr. Singh that he called the meeting at his own initiative, it remains to be seen how quickly he sorts out the problems highlighted by the delegation, having already spoken to the AG whom he also briefed in regard to the critical SC case which is said to have caused all the confusions regarding the promotion matters of CSS cadre officials.
The AG is believed to have assured the Minister that he would revert to him with legal avenues available after examining the whole issue in the light of the Minister's briefing.
At the meeting, the CSS delegation impressed on the Minister about the necessity to immediately start regular promotions through all CSS grades, hold LDCE exam 2018 onwards, declaration of Oct 1 as CSS Day, grant of benefits of OGAS (organized group A service), removal of 9-year clause for central deputation, declaration of NFSG in JAG Grade, operationalization of 30% posts at JAG level from overall senior duty posts, etc, and cadre review by CR Division.
The delegation also drew the attention of Dr. Singh to what it considers as the chief cause of mismanagement of issues in the CSS cadre. It informed the minister that much of the problems in the CSS cadre are due to the fact the people who do not belong to the CSS Cadre occupy the important posts in the CS Division, with very little understanding of the Cadre. So the delegation requested the Minister that at least Director level posts in CS Division must be reserved for CSS officers.
Reportedly, when the minister learned about the promotion orders being issued in other Cadres, including the Supreme Court registry itself, he contacted Attorney General, KK Venugopal over the telephone to discuss the matter and also expressed his concerns about the adverse effect on Government functioning due to deadlock in promotions and vacancies over several years. Sources said that Venugopal, in response, requested the minister to re-send the file for legal opinion and a suitable solution.
Readers may recall that Indianmandarins has been consistently highlighting the plight of CSS cadre officials.
Since it's never too late to do the right thing, Dr. Singh's initiative may hopefully resolve the problems of CSS officials in keeping with his government's commitment to good governance.
(By Rakesh Ranjan)
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