After a few Parliamentarians raised questions over the procedures being followed in the selection of Deputy Managing Director (DMD) at National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh has sought the details of the issue from the department concerned.
“It is pertinent to mention here that after receiving complaints from a few Members of Parliament in this matter, Agriculture Minister had asked for comments from the department,” the Ministry said in a statement.
The Pioneer on Thursday had reported that several MPs including KP Maurya, Sharad Yadav and Kanak lata Singh had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Agriculture Minister about certain recruitment rules having been tweaked to facilitate the candidature of one DN Thakur, Director (Cooperation) in the Ministry.
The Ministry-constituted Screening Committee to shortlist names had rejected Thakur’s candidature on the grounds of him being overage. “Thakur despite being overage and rejected by the Screening Committee has still been included in the list of probables and called for interview on January 10,” the MPs complained.
However, the Ministry on Thursday cited Recruitment Rules 2010 to justify the relaxation of age saying as per the rules the Secretary, Agriculture, who heads the Selection Committee, was competent to approve relaxations.
“With a view to give wider choice to the Selection Committee headed by the Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC), the criteria of age was relaxed by the competent authority i.e. Secretary, DAC in respect of the departmental candidates,” the Ministry said. The Ministry said that an advertisement was given in newspapers asking for submission of applications by October 20 2014.
“A total number of 17 candidates applied for the post by the due date. A Screening Committee which was headed by Chief Director, Cooperation Division of the department met for the screening of the candidates. As per the RR for the post of DMD, NCDC, the maximum age for filling up of the post on deputation basis is 55 years. However, as per the Recruitment Rules 2010, the age, educational qualifications and experience in suitable cases may be relaxed by the competent authority,” it said.
Citing this RR provisions, the Ministry said that given the powers vested in Secretary, the department overruled the Screening Committee objections on Thakur who will now appear for interview on Saturday.