The Nagaland Assembly Secretariat Staff Association (NASSA) clarified through a press release that they are not against the effects of promotional avenues of the Officers & staff of the NLA Secretariat on the sideline of the service extension but against arbitrary exercise of existing civil rules to suit one’s interest.
This clarification comes at a backdrop of an announcement regarding theservice extension of Dr. P.J. Antony, a retired Officer from Lok Sabha Secretariat; by enforcing the Service Rules Amendment Notification dated 18th May, 2022.
Dr. P.J. Antony, a retired Officer, according to NASSA was re-appointed as the Commissioner &Secretary of NLA Secretariat in 2020 for a contract period of two years w.e.f. 01.06.2020 to 31.05.2022 which was necessitated at that time due to non availability of the officers in the feeder cadre who had fulfilled the required criteria and other factors necessary to be promoted to the post of Secretary. Therefore, the re-appointment of Dr. P.J. Antony in 2020 was done under exceptional circumstances as per the available provision of the Government Order and hence his extension on the service is uncalled for.
The NASSA alleged that Dr. P. J. Antony amended the existing service rules arbitrarily to suit his interest of service extension by inserting a provision where a superannuated officer can be appointed on deputation in the Assembly Secretariat till the age of 65 years.
To this, the Association is of the view thatDr. P.J Antony whose contract service was due to be expired on 31st May, 2022, resorted to amend the Assembly Secretariat Service Rules to accommodate himself as a superannuated officer without observing any procedural norms and guidelines and without consulting any senior administrative officers or the Service Rules Amendment Committee to suit his personal whims.
The NASSA further strongly objected to the Cabinet’s decision of approving for creating one post of Principal Secretary and relying on the enforcement of the Amendment Notification dated 18″ May, 2022, where Dr. P.J Antony, a retired Officer was proposed to be appointed to the newly created post of the Principal Secretary.
NASSA added that utilizing Antony’s expertise service during the operationalization of e-Vidhan application in the State Assembly does not necessarily warrant his extension of service as an Administrative Head of the NLA since his service can be utilized as a resource person for the project as earlier.
NASSA in conclusion clarified that the e-Vidhan Project was initiated by former Speaker and former Commissioner & Secretary and not during the time of Dr. P.J. Antony.
NASSA two-day pen down strike from today
Meanwhile, NASSA has called for its first phase of agitation on June 3 and 4 in the form of a pen down strike.
The strike has been called to express dissatisfaction on the appointment of Dr. PJ Antony, retired officer, by the state government to the post of principal secretary under the establishment of Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat, an update from NASSA general secretary, Talirenla, stated.