Noted rights activist Pradip Pradhan on Thursday slammed the State Government for extending retirement age limits to favoured officers, particularly at the Secretary level.
Taking an example, he said Odisha legislative Secretary Amiya Kumar Sarangi has been given extensions twice after his promotion from the Joint Secretary post to the Secretary post on May 19, 2011 till March 31, 2013.
The retirement age of Sarangi was extended till 60 years till March 31, 2015 and then for two years till he reaches 62 on March 31, 2017. While the first extension was given as per Rule-7 of the Rule 7(1) of the Odisha legislative Assembly Secretariat (Recruitment & Conditions of Service ) Rules, 1983 (as amended upto 2010), the second extension was given following an amendment to the Rule-8 of the Rules.
Pradhan said the PIO of the OlA had provided this information in February 2016 in response to an RTI application.
Taking another example, Pradhan said Rajesh Sharma was given extension as OHPC HRD Director twice on contractual basis without making publishing advertisement. He will retire on July 31, 2016.
“In every Department, there is either extension of service of officers granted or reappointment given as consultant. Favouritism has become the major factor for granting extension of service to the officers, though it is noted by the authority that the extension is granted on ground of outstanding talents,” observed Pradhan.