PANJIM: The State government has kept on hold the proposed extension in service sought for North Goa Planning and Development Authority’s (NGPDA) planning assistant Prakash Kurterkar, who is due for retirement in September end.
The department of Town and Country Planning (TCP) has kept the proposal on hold, pending detailed information from NGPDA with regards to whether the post is a promotional post and if so whether eligible candidates are available in the feeder cadre or not. NGPDA is yet to submit the information.
NGPDA had on May 3, 2018 moved a proposal before TCP for extension of service of Kurterkar, who is said to be a close aide of chairman Michael Lobo.
However, in response to the proposal, Chief Town Planner (administration) James Mathew moved a note to NGPDA member secretary RK Pandita on June 21, requesting “to inform this office as whether the post of planning assistant in NGPDA is promotional post and if so whether eligible candidates are available in feeder cadre or not”. “You are requested to give the details of the eligible candidates if any along with the copy of the recruitment rules (RR). The details are required to submit to the government as sought by Secretary TCP,” Mathew said in the note. Speaking to Herald, Mathew confirmed that the extension in service has not been granted to Kurterkar as it would be injustice to those planning assistants, if any, waiting for promotions. “That is the reason why we have sought details from NGPDA about the eligible candidates. We want to consider all the aspects, before moving the proposal to Secretary TCP,” he said. “It is not right or rather legal to just grant extension to the person who is due for retirement, without verifying the facts,” he added. When contacted, NGPDA member secretary RK Pandita refused to comment anything in detail and said that all the required information will be submitted.
