J-K govt bans practice of extensions for state govt staff

Acknowledging that the awarding of extensions or re-employment to former officials affected the prospects of those in active service, the Jammu and Kashmir government today put a total ban on the practice.
The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The state Cabinet directed the General Administration Department not to entertain any proposals seeking extension and advised the various departments against submitting requests for the same, an official spokesman said.
The decision comes after the government recently admitted that in contradiction to its policy to discourage the practice, it had handed re-employment to nearly 200 former employees, including drivers and orderlies, in the past four years.

In response to a question in the Legislative Council earlier this month, state finance minister Abdul Rahim Rather had admitted that former employees had been retained in government departments, corporations and autonomous bodies in a variety of roles.
The minister had at the time acknowledged that extensions in favour of retired government servants ended up blocking the growth of serving officers besides affecting employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, the state government also approved promotions for IPS officers SR Samuel and Udaya Baskar Billa who have now moved up a scale with effect from January 1 this year.