Nagaland Assembly Secretariat Staff Association (NASSA) began its two-day “pen down” strike Friday against the “arbitrary amendment” of service rules and reappointment of Dr. PJ Anthony as the administrative head of department (AHoD).
Talking to media persons, NASSA vice president, Rocus Rino, said the main contention of the association was on the “arbitrary amendment” of the service rules by the incumbent principal secretary, Dr.PJ Anthony, to accommodate himself to the post. He also said that the association was protesting against reappointment of a retired officer to be the AHoD.
NASSA vice president disclosed that the association had filed a court case against the amendment of service rules on May 25 and the court held a hearing the next day. During the hearing, he said the government advocate sought two-week time, which was yet to end on June 9, 2022. Accordingly, he said the court passed an interim order that no new appointments be made during that time. However, he said the appointment order for Dr.PJ Anthony to the post of principal secretary was issued in the afternoon of June 2, Rino disclosed.
He said that the appointment was in clear violation of the court’s order not to make any new appointments or promotions.
The first day of “pen down” strike passed off peacefully, he said, adding that all dag movements were also ceased. He informed that the association, which has close to 300 members, would initiate its next course of action if their current protest goes unheeded.
While the staff ceased work on Friday, he informed that the same would continue on Saturday and then decide their next course of action.
The protest has been called to register protest against the state government appointing Dr. PJ Antony (retired officer) as principal secretary, under the establishment of the NLA secretariat.
NLA notification ‘arbitrary’: CANSSEA
DIMAPUR, JUN 3 (NPN): Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees’ Association (CANSSEA) has opposed “arbitrary notification” of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) and appealed to the State government to treat all its employees equally.
In a representation of chief secretary J Alam, CANSSEA president Dr Ilang and general secretary Dr Hovithal Sothu termed the May 18, 2022 notification as irrational, dictatorial, absolute, irresponsible and contradictory to the Nagaland Retirement from Public Employment (Second Amendment) Act 2009, which governed all State government employees.
Being a federating association of CANSSEA, they said Nagaland Assembly Secretariat Staff Association (NASSA) had conveyed to the parent organisation its grievances regarding the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat (Recruitment and Conditions of Service 3rd Amendment) Rules, 2022, which appeared to be genuine.
Therefore, the duo said CANSSEA deliberated upon the notification and noticed grave abnormalities brought about by it.
Quoting Third Schedule – A against serial no. 1, they said column 6 inserted Contract (a) A superannuated officer who was otherwise eligible to be appointed on deputation, not exceeding the age of 65 years. They warned that this amended Act would create unrest among NASSA members supported by the State government employees, which would directly affect the smooth functioning of the government. Therefore, CANSSEA called for addressing the grievances put forth at the earliest.
RPP seeks quashing appointment of NLA principal secretary
DIMAPUR, JUN 3 (NPN): Rising People’s Party (RPP) has demanded nullification of the appointment of Dr PJ Anthony as principal secretary of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Secretariat and bring in capable and eligible officers to head the secretariat.
Asserting that there was no reason why the post should not be filled up from amongst the eligible officers serving officers at the secretariat, the party in a press release termed the UDA government’s decision to extend the service of Anthony as principal secretary, who had retired, as a desperate bid to further subvert the power and authority of an established system.
RPP questioned the State government and NLA speaker Sharingain Longkumer on the series of service extension granted to the present principal secretary even after his retirement from service – first as commissioner & secretary for two years from June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2022 on contract basis and then to the present post of principal secretary (contractual) from June 1,2022.
Recalling that Anthony had joined the NLA secretariat as secretary (deputation) from January 2, 2020 till his retirement from regular service on May 31, 2020, the party questioned whether this meant that the government did not trust the capabilities of its own officers or if it was abuse of public office for private gain.
It has also asked whether the extension had not deprived other employees of their rights. According to the party, the malicious intention with which the cadre post of secretary of NLA was upgraded as commissioner & secretary on contract basis and then to principal secretary was clear and condemnable.
The party said the desperate move of the government by issuing notification of May 18, 2022 for Amendments in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1999 to fit the present incumbent was highly questionable and uncalled for.
Terming the allegations of bypassing the Cadre Review Committee/Service Rules Amendment Committee as serious in nature that ought to be answered by the government, RPP noted that the UDA government was also incidentally in news recently for restructuring of cadre post of additional secretary of the same secretariat, which was struck down and set aside by Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court. This system of regularly tinkering with the appointment and tenure norms of the secretariat with mala fide intentions was harmful for the good governance system, it cautioned.
By extending the service through an amendment, the government had set a bad precedence where the employees might do anything to please the bosses for extensions. This came at a time when the credibility of many State establishments was at an all-time low, the release pointed out.
Appealing to the speaker to uphold trust, propriety and ethics in public life instead of turning a deaf ear to the sentiments of people, RPP said what was otherwise clear was that the government functioned only with vested interest and there was no common welfare agenda for the well-being of all citizens.