If an ad-hoc employee is put on a regular job in any Government agency, he or she automatically gets financial benefits. But that’s not the case with ad-hoc Delhi Andaman Nicobar Service (DANICS) officers in the national Capital. If any ad-hoc DANICS officer is given a regular cadre, he or she is not only put in the less salary bracket, but also have to face hard postings in Union Territories like Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman Nicobar and lakshdweep.
There are about 450 ad-hoc DANICS officers serving in the Delhi Government. Only Delhi Administrative Subordinate Service (DASS) cadre officers are promoted to ad-hoc DANICS cadre by the Union Home Ministry. According to sources, 70-80 are eligible for induction into regular DANICS cadre. The serious lacunas in the administrative set up is such that despite a series of reminders by the Ministry of Home Affairs to hold DPC (departmental promotion committee) for induction of DASS cadre officers into the DANICS cadre as there is a large number of vacancies available in DANICS, the Delhi Government is yet to provide names and details of these officials.
The reason why the Government has not sent its list of officers is that the ad-hoc DANICS officers are not keen to apply for regular cadre which leads to the reduction of their pay scale and also forces them to take up hard postings outside Delhi at the age of 50-55.
In a reminder to Delhi Government’s services department, the MHA has expressed concerned over non-availability of requisite eligible officers and sought to provide details of such eligible officials to entry cadre of DANICS. “This may be accorded top priority,” it said.
After 15 to 16 years in service, a DASS cadre officer is promoted as ad-hoc DANICS officer. Once promoted to ad-hoc DANICS cadre, the officer gets the pay scale of Rs 6,600. But once the ad-hoc DANICS officer is put into regular cadre, the officers pay scale goes down to `4,800. Even the housing rent allowance of the regular DANICS cadre officer gets reduced.
For instance, one officer was appointed in Grade-I DASS Cadre in September 1986 through the Staff Selection Commission. He was subsequently promoted as Grade-I DASS officer with effect from February 1995. He was appointed on ad-hoc basis to ex-cadre post equivalent to DANICS in January 2007 to discharge higher responsibilities. He has been drawing pay and allowances in the pay-band of `15,600 to `39,600 in grade pay `6,000. But once inducted into regular DANICS cadre, he will be placed in the pay grade of Rs 4,800. And after four years of regular service in DANICS cadre, he will be eligible for the pay grade of `5,400 — which is much below than what he is drawing right now.
An ad-hoc 54-year-old DANICS officer told The Pioneer, “At this stage of my career, I am required to look after my aged parents who are bed-ridden and need my constant care. My children, who are at the threshold of their career and at marriageable age, also need my constant support. The present induction in no way can be called promotion as there is no monetary benefit. In no way regular cadre posting is going to change my social status. At the same time, it is going to shatter my family’s social life also cause monetary loss. No weightage whatsoever is given to the long service of 10 years by ad-hoc DANICS and induction in DANICS cadre at the bottom of the ladder vis-à-vis is not justifiable.”
The Arvind Kejriwal Government had earlier approved a proposal for restructuring of DASS cadre of Delhi Government and increased their pay of `7,600 and `8,700 which is yet to be implemented. The file is pending with the lieutenant Governor. As per the decision, the ad-hoc DANICS would be entitled to get promotion after 12 years in service.