IAS Kumar Pal Gautam, who is serving as Director Local Bodies, ruled down the postings orders issued by Nagar Nigam (Jaipur Heritage) Commissioner Arun Kumar Hasija, who is promoted to IAS from state administrative service.
Hasija had appointed technical officers on three administrative posts which has never been the practice in Nagar Nigam. Hasija gave additional responsibility of deputy commissioner (health) to Dr Sonia Agrawal, who is working as chief health officer (CHO) in Nigam. Similarly, the post of deputy commissioner (fire) was handed over to fire officer Devendra Meena and the post of deputy commissioner (garage) was given to executive engineer of garage Balram Meena.
Soon after these three appointments, the Rajasthan Municipality Administrative Services Council (RMASC) went up in arms against the decision of Hasija saying that only officers of Rajasthan administrative service (RAS) and Rajasthan Municipal Service (RMS) can be appointed on administrative posts.
“Technical of officers cannot hold administrative posts. There are a large number of RAS and RMS officers in Nagar Nigam who can be given these administrative charges. How can you ignore these officer to appoint a technical officer on an administrative post?” questioned Shravan Kumar Bishnoi, president of RMASC.
Bishnoi said that the municipal corporation had appointed technical officers on administrative posts in 2021 also. That was challenged in court which also agreed that administrative should be filled by RAS and RMS officers. A single bench of High Court had then put stay on the order.
“Now again municipal corporation is giving charge to a technical profiler which is sheer violation of HC order. I don't know under whose influence, Nagar Nigam is working against the court order and the rule,” said Bishnoi.
UDH minister Jhabar Singh Kharra acted upon the representation of RMASC and asked Kumar Pal Gautam to cancel the orders issued by Arun Kumar Hasija with immediate effect.
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