Kolkata, July 9 -- The West Bengal government has moved to regularise the services of Group D employees and Group C staff promoted to the clerical cadre without clearing the mandatory qualifying examination, while making it compulsory for them to pass the prescribed computer operation and typing test to retain their promotions.
The decision was announced through a memorandum issued by the Finance Department's Audit Branch on Thursday.
Under the order, employees promoted as Lower Division Clerks (LDCs) or Upper Division Clerks (UDCs) in violation of the West Bengal Services (Recruitment to Clerical Cadre) Rules, 2019 will not be reverted to their previous posts or suffer any reduction in pay. However, they must clear the computer operation and typing test conducted by the Netaji Subhas Administrative Training Institute (NSATI) to regularise their appointments.
The government found that several departments continued granting exemptions even after the 2019 rules came into force on January 24, 2019, abolishing the earlier exemption for employees above 50 years from the mandatory test.
Employees failing to qualify will not receive future annual increments. Once they pass, withheld increments will be restored notionally, while actual financial benefits will accrue only from the date of qualification.
Their seniority in the clerical cadre will also count only from the date they clear the examination, potentially affecting future promotions. Until then, the posts occupied by such employees will be treated as ex-cadre posts to protect the promotional prospects of employees appointed under the prescribed rules.
The memorandum exempts employees who retired before its issuance from reopening of their cases. Departments may also seek relaxation from the Finance Department for employees nearing retirement to safeguard their pensionary benefits. In cases of death in service or resignation before qualifying, withheld increments may be restored notionally only for calculating gratuity and leave encashment.
The government warned that any promotion granted after issuance of the memorandum in violation of the 2019 recruitment rules will be treated as illegal and cancelled immediately.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.