PANJIM: The famous mathematician and philosopher, Plato once said “The measure of the man is what he does with power”. Truly, power can make you do wonders for mankind or can corrupt you with the belief that I have the ultimate strength. Unfortunately, the latter applies to our Power Minister who considers himself even above the State Chief Minister in defying his decisions; leave aside other regulating bodies such the IPB, JERC, etc.
In an exclusive “Power Raj in the Electricity Department”, Herald had revealed the blatant violations by the Power Ministry of guidelines mentioned in Goa (Right of Citizens to Time bound delivery of Public Services) Bill, 2013, the JERC Supply Code Regulations, 2010 and the IPB brought in by the government to bring about efficient working in the department and for the convenience of consumers in availing department services.
This time it is the turn of the Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC). The organization of high repute was totally sidelined by the Power Department in its selection process, as Herald Exclusive reports yet another case of total misuse of power, this time in selection of 4 Officiating Executive Engineers in Electricity Department.
In separate orders issued by the than Chief Electrical Engineer, Mr. Lekshmanan on 24th July, 2014 and on 27th July, 2014, 4 Assistant Executive Engineers were given the charge of Executive Engineer on Officiating basis. The orders released more than 16 months now; also mentions that this is a stop gap arrangement till these vacancies are filled on regular basis by direct recruitment or promotions, whichever is earlier.
The selection totally ignored the seniority list of Assistant Executive Engineers in the Electricity Department.
Further, it totally ignored the role of GPSC, which should be made party to any such selection process. At the same time, in separate orders, 2 retired Executive Engineers were also given extensions beyond the superannuation period on contract basis.
The candidates selected for the post of the Officiating Executive Engineers were Gajraj Singh for Division VII, Curchorem, Santosh Lolyekar for Division XVI, Margao, Sunil for Division XIV, and . A.P. John for Division V, Bicholim.
As per last seniority list dated 12th November, 2012, Mr. Singh is 24th, Mr. Loyekar is 34th, Mr. Sunil is 20th and Mr. John is 30th in the list.
There were several Assistant Executive Engineers ahead in the Seniority list who were sidelined in the selection. It was evident that some of these selected candidates were close to Power Ministry and could manage not only to get selected but to occupy the post for last 16 months with the blessing of the minister.
The selection has demotivated the eligible Assistant Executive Engineers who now have to report to their juniors in the department.
The move is therefore said to have affected the working within the department with staff fearing similar selections in other posts also.
Herald investigates that as per the seniority list, as on 30th November, 2012, 7 vacancies were available in the department for the post of Executive Engineer (Electrical).
The total posts occupied by degree holders as of that date were 6 and by diploma holders were 14.
Since there were no further promotions for diploma holders engineer to the post of Superintending engineer and thereafter for the post of Chief Engineer and as there were no eligible candidates for promotion from degree holder category, it was decided by the department that 7 vacant post of executive engineers be filled by direct recruitment.
Accordingly, GPSC was informed and the process for direct recruitment began in July, 2014 by advertising of this post by the GPSC on newspaper and their website.
Consequent, 5 candidates were selected through Direct Recruitment process by GPSC and the results of selection were declared on their website on 14th November, 2014 followed by issue of selection letters on 28th November, 2014.
The candidates have still not been given the appointment orders, almost a year after their selection through a fair process by GPSC. In a Herald Exclusive, it was brought to the notice of public that even through the file was approved by the Chief Minister on 29th August, 2015, the file was verbally called and kept on hold by the Power Minister, for the reasons best known to him.
Herald questions the power department and the power ministry why Why were appointments made to the post of Executive Engineers on Officiating basis in July, 2014 when process of Direct Recruitment was already started by the GPSC and why is that the appointment orders are still not issued to the 5 candidates selected for these posts by GPSC, way back in November, 2014.
