Non-adherence of recruitment policy on advertisement of vacant posts
Shillong, Jan 6: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has asked the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to cancel appointment of 82 employees, for not following the Council’s own policy on advertising vacant posts.
“Non-adherence to the recruitment policy create opportunities for favouritism in the hiring process. In order to maintain fair competition for selection of deserving candidates, the Council may follow recruitment rules. These appointments, being in violation of the Council’s own Rules, need to be anulled/cancelled,” stated the CAG report for the year ended March 31, 2019.
Appointment and promotions of KHADC staff regulated as per the KHADC Service Rules, 1961 wherein Rule 3 stipulates that “the recruitment to all classes of services and staff shall be made after due advertisement and by competitive examination or on the basis of an oral examination and interview”.
Scrutiny of records revealed that KHADC recruited 82 staff members (permanent) to various posts, the CAG said.
It was, however, notices that these 82 vacancies were never advertised, it added.
The appointments were made only on the basis of Executive Committee’s approval without holding any competitive examination/interview etc, according to the CAG report.
KHADC had incurred an expenditure of ₹1.06 crore during 2017-19 on the pay and allowances of these appointees.
However, reasons for recruiting the staff without holding any competitive examination/interview and number of the sanctioned posts against each cadre were neither on record nor furnished to audit though called for, it said.
Meanwhile, KHADC Executive Council secretary in August 2022 stated that as per provision contained in Sub-Rule IV of Rule 2 of chapter-I of the KHADC Service Rules, 1961, “Appointing Authority” means the Executive Committee or any authority empowered by it to make appointment to such service, grade or post as the case may be.
Further, Sub-Rule XI of Rule 2 of Chapter-I of the said Rules states that “Committee” means the Executive Committee of the District Council of the United Khasi Jaintia Hills.
Rule 12 of Chapter III of the said Rules stipulates that “all appointments to the Council services, classes III & IV shall be made by the authorities specified in that behalf by a general order of the Committee”.
Based on the above Rules, the 82 appointments to various posts like Sub Inspector Tax, JAA etc, have been approved by the Executive Committee, KHADC against the existing vacancies.
Further, KHADC reply submitted in October 2023 indicated that out of 66 appointed staff during 2018-19 only eight staff were appointed on compassionate ground whereas seven staff were appointed against premature retirement of parent and other staff were appointed without conducting any competitive exams.
Rejecting the Council’s reply as “not acceptable”, the CAG pointed out that Rule 3 of Chapter III of General Rules regulating appointment and promotion stipulates that the recruitment to all classes of services and staff (except compassionate ground/invalid pension cases) shall be made after due advertisement and by competitive examination or on the basis of oral examination and interview.
