Over the last five years, 139 government employees in Goa have been granted service ex tensions beyond their retirement age, with the Public Works Department (PWD) leading the pack. Recent data reveals that 70 of these extensions occurred in just the last three years, primarily cit ing “public interest.” The information was revealed through Legisla tive Assembly Questions tabled by Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral and Cur torim MLA Aleixo Regi naldo Lourenco in the re cently concluded budget session of the Goa Assem bly. Cabral sought infor mation on service exten sions, re-employment, or contractual continuation granted to senior officers/ higher authorities in gov ernment departments, corporations, and au tonomous bodies during the last three years and Lourenco asked for simi lar details for the last fiveyears.
The government clarified that these service exten sions were granted due to administrative exigencies in cases where no officer from the feeder grade was eligible for promotion, or due to the knowledge and experience required for matters pertaining to the department concerned and in the public interest there by necessitating the contin uation of existing officers in service. Of the 139 officers/em ployees granted service ex tensions in the last year, 22 each were by the PWD and the Directorate of Accounts followed by 10 by the Direc torate of Education. These 10 include seven headmis tresses and three headmas ters but no reasons were mentioned for their re-em ployment. The Water Resources De partment (WRD) granted extensions to nine retiring engineers in last five years. The government granted extensions to two retiring engineers stating that their services were essential for the ongoing River Mhadei matter.
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Similarly, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communication granted extensions to nine employees and the Directorate of Technical Education and the Electricity Department gave extensions to six re tired staff each. When contacted, Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said, “The government should stop granting extensions to retiring officers and employees because it disturbs workplace morale and departmental efficiency. It blocks promotions and opportunities for the seniormost officers and employees leading to frustration and reduced motivation. Of all service extensions granted, 80 per cent of them do not have a clean record which speaks volumes about the system.” Goa Government Employees Association (GGEA) presi dent Abhay Mandrekar said, “We have strongly objected to the practice of granting extensions or contractual appoint ments in departments where eligible staff are awaiting promotion. If promotions are not granted and extensions are given instead, it defeats the purpose of seniority and service rules.” Former GGEA president John Nazareth said, “We are op posed to granting extensions to retiring government em ployees because it is blocking promotional opportunities of deserving seniormost officers. The High Court in three different judgments, directed the Goa government to avoid extensions in services and continue to infuse young blood to fill such posts.
These employees have become ‘Sarkar Jamai’ (government’s son-in-law). We will again hold a dis graceful felicitation of the director of planning, statistics and evaluation.” According to All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) national spokesperson and political analyst Trajano D’Mello, “The extension in service granted to govern ment servants is often rumoured to be driven by vested interests, effectively turning them into collection agents. This practice deprives eligible candidates of their right ful promotions and frequently leads to mental stress, which in turn disturbs the peace and well-being of their families.” Meanwhile, the Goa University has given extensions to 22 officers, mostly professors.
