Council secretariat, Finance department in tug of war over appointments to vacant posts

BENGALURU:  The Congress-led government’s guarantee schemes seem to be even affecting appointments to permanent posts in the Legislative Council secretariat. There are 30 Group-D vacant in the Council secretariat and the government is also going slow on recruitment of data operators, office attendants and drivers.

The Finance Department is not in favour of permanent appointment of these posts, as it will become a burden for the department and hence, has held up a notification issued by the Council secretariat for direct recruitment. There has been a tug of war between the Council chairman and the Finance Department for four years over the issue of recruitments.

The Finance Department has suggested recruitment on contract basis, but not direct recruitment. The department also cited financial constraints in filling the vacant posts. On the other hand, Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti is demanding that the Finance Department grant permission for regular appointments and also held a meeting with the senior officials to discussed the issue.

Council Chairman Horatti is now in a fix as the Finance Department’s consent is necessary for the appointments. He is now planning to write to the government in the coming week and seeking its intervention in this regard.