The decision of the State Government to release separate seniority list of Assistant Engineers (AE) for civil and electrical/ mechanical wings in Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan has raised suspicion of some foul play in the department.
The separate seniority list was released in gross violation of the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan Engineering Service Rules- 2011. Sources revealed that some resourceful AEs managed to influence some senior Government officials to ensure that separate list is released, which despite being unprecedented is technically incorrect also.
Unlike in other Engineering departments there are no separate posts earmarked for different streams like Civil, electrical, mechanical in Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan. However on July 04, 2015 separate merit list of the AEs was released which shocked the engineers.
It is worth mentioning here that based on the marks obtained in the entrance examination conducted by the State Public Service Commission merit list of the AEs is prepared. The department would now give promotions to the AEs on the basis of the merit list on the vacant posts of Executive Engineers (E E).
A look on the seniority list reveals that the highest ranked serving AE with Civil engineering background secured less marks than the eight ranked candidate with electrical/ mechanical subjects. One of a candidate with Electrical/ Mechanical subjects told The Pioneer that separate merit list jeopardises the chances of AEs like him for promotions. “What is the rationale behind the separate merit list in violation of service rulesIJ” he questioned. At present there are 53 AEs from electrical and Mechanical branches and 56 AEs from the Civil branches in the department.
Interestingly the separate merit list was released even though the additional secretary Peyjal had written three different letters to the Public Service Commission on September 23, November 18 last year and February 05 this year clearly mentioning that combined merit is always prepared in Jal Sansthan.
When contacted the General Manager (GM) of Jal Sansthan S K Gupta told The Pioneer that the department is reviewing the seniority list and appropriate corrective measure could be taken soon. He said that internal discussions are going among the cadre of AEs on worth of separate seniority list.