Kohima, June 15 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Wednesday wrote to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Speaker, seeking ‘intervention and immediate action’ with regard to the contentious service extension of retired Government employee Dr PJ Antony as the Principal Secretary, NLA.
In the letter, the NSF referred to its June 2 representation to the state Chief Secretary, where it had stated that the service of the officer in question (Dr Antony) was set to end on May 31, 2022, “however, through unilateral amendments in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat (Recruitment and conditions of service) Rules 1999, the incumbent enhanced the service period to years and also vide a state government notification bearing reference NO:AS/ADDL. SECY/CB/2020/314 dated June 1, 2022, the same was extended to November, 30, 2023.”
The Federation alleged that the officer “has been overriding the ban imposed by the state government on the extension of service and re-employment of the government servants who have attained the age of superannuation on completion of 35 of service or otherwise.”
More so, the promotion accorded to Dr Antony as the Head of Department with administrative authorities despite him being a superannuated Central government employee “is truly unfortunate and the same needs to be rectified without any delay,” the NSF asserted.
It meanwhile suggested that if the service of the incumbent is deemed indispensable for the smooth functioning of the concerned department, an alternative arrangement (either in the capacity of a consultant or otherwise) to retain his service should be the way forward and not the present arrangement.
It further appealed that Speaker to intervene immediately and ensure that the notification extending the service length of Dr PJ Anthony is rescinded without further delay.
