Panaj (Goa): Close to 20 days after the Vigilance Department warned government servants from participating in any activity against the government policies, the government employees union has demanded the circular’s withdrawal or amendment within 15 days.
The union namely Goa Government Employees Association has pointed at various paragraphs of the circular, issued on February 17, that it had confused many in the government service. The association did not leave the opportunity to call it a laughing stock.
“Many government employees and heads of departments are found mocking your circular as it has not made clear whether you or your department will exercise the powers of disciplinary authority entrusted to them being heads of departments/disciplinary authority of the employees under their control. The HODs also wonder whether they should shut their eyes under the presumption that you will take action (by encroaching into their powers) or whether they should refer the cases to you/your office and if t is so, under what provisions of law, you are empowered to take action against the non-gazetted employees of other departments,” the letter by GGEA President John Nazareth states.
The association has said that there is a growing apprehension in the minds of the government servants that the current government is trying to suppress the freedom of agitation. “This organisation requests you to immediately amend or withdraw the circular within 15 days and simultaneously inform the organisation the reasons for issue of such Circular which has become a laughing stock. It may also be informed whether it has government approval and also whether the powers of the HODs as appointing and disciplinary authority of the establishment has been delegated to you and if so under which provision of law,” Nazareth added.
In a circular issued by Director Vigilance Sanjeev Dessai the employees were cautioned from getting themselves involved in movement that attracts the prohibition/ restriction of Rule 9 of CCS (conduct) Rule 1964.
The CCS (conduct) Rules provides the person by which a government servant can express his or her opinion for consideration of the government. Accordingly, it is imperative that all government servants adhere to the provisions of the CCS (conduct) Rules scrupulously as a violation of the same will attract disciplinary action, Dessai said asking the employees to follow rules without indulging in protests against government policies.
