Staff of Central Secretariat Services gathered inside the North Block to protest the delay in promotions on Friday, February 25. Perhaps this was the closest to such a massive flash strike the high security premises have seen in recent times, and journalists covering the union ministries were the first to share images sent in by their sources. The staff was demanding that the decision on promotions pending for the past six years be taken quickly, and has been delayed even more due to legal cases.
6️⃣Yrs5️⃣M &1⃣6⃣Days since Regular &
2⃣9⃣9⃣Days Denial of even Adhoc Promotion
2⃣9⃣Days since Judgement Pronounced by SC@DoPTGoI @PMOIndia pls restart Promotions immediately.
WorkingWith #Demotivation
RetiringIn #Frustration#SaveCSS
VC: @CSSforum_ pic.twitter.com/gvRNcLtp6h— ??? ????????? (@CSS_officers) February 26, 2022
According to Indian Express, protesters insisted on meeting MoS (Personnel) Jitendra Singh, who was not in his office. However the minister’s office “assured the protesting members that their issues would be addressed by March 10.” These regular promotions have been withheld in the Central Secretariat cadres for the past six years stated IE, there are also litigations pending in the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, “Promotions in all other cadres of the central government are happening in full swing with the conditions of final judgement of cases filed in the matters,” the IE quoted Gomesh Kumawat, media advisor of the CSS Forum which represents the interests of the staff. He added, “Legitimate demands of the CSS cadres such as extending benefits of the Organised Group ‘A’ Service, conducting the Section Officers Limited Departmental Examination, proceeding on deputation before nine years of service in the cadre etc.” have not been taken up by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). He further said, “Almost 4,500 posts, which is 40% of the total strength of CSS cadres, are lying vacant due to pending regular promotions for the last six years. The CSS Forum has met with MoS Dr Jitendra Singh for expeditious action on the long pending issues, however, the DoPT is unmoved despite clear instructions of the MoS to the officers.”
According to IE, the minister recently issued orders for 4,000 promotions, subject to the court’s approval. However, some people went to court against it and got the court to issue a stay order. When the government got the court stay vacated, some petitioners got contempt notices issued. Therefore, the process was stalled “due to litigation amongst the cadre officers itself.” However, the protestors say this is just an excuse and only “adhoc promotions were made which were temporary. Nobody can go on deputation at that level. The court never stalled the promotions and yet, for the past one year, not a single promotion has been done. People are retiring without promotions.”
In an unprecedented situation, scores of Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officials have assembled outside DoPT minister Jitendra Singh’s office at North Block. They are demanding expedited decision on promotion that is blocked for the past six years. pic.twitter.com/5YbIXBgBYm
— Vijaita Singh (@vijaita) February 25, 2022
According to the government’s own statement, a delegation of Central Secretariat officials called on Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on February 8, to discuss “promotion issues, including timely promotions as well as other service matters.” The twelve-member delegation representing all Central Secretariat Services (CSS) officers had then flagged a number of issues before the Minister like immediate Promotions (Regular/ad hoc) in CSS, extending all the benefits of Organized Group ‘A’ Service to Central Secretariat Service Officers such as inclusion in the list of CRD, Cadre Review by CR Division, Non-functional Up-gradation, Declaration of NFSG in JAG Grade, Operationalization of 30% posts at JAG level from overall senior duty posts etc. They also sought “relaxation in the 9-year service clause for proceeding on central deputation” They were “assured” that the DoPT will take “all measures to sort out all the pending issues including the cases pending in the courts.” It seems the 1,000 protests on Friday, got yet another assurance.
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