Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Oct 21: As the School Education Department (SED) has failed in filling up the posts of Zonal Education Officers (ZEO) which are lying vacant in Kashmir as well as in Jammu, and its failure on conducting the DPC well in time, it has now assigned the charge of the ZEO and equivalent to the Headmasters on a look-after basis across the UT.
As per officials, there are around 34 such Headmasters across the Union Territory, who have been given the charge of ZEO and equivalent purely on a look-after basis and the same has been carried out based on seniority.
In Jammu Division, such appointments have been made in 8 districts which include Doda, Kathua, Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Ramban, Reasi and Rajouri. In Kashmir Division, such appointments have been made in 4 districts which include Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam and Bandipora.
A Government order that has been issued in this regard, clearly states that the ZEO and equivalent are lying vacant in UT of J&K and the same is adversely affecting the monitoring, supervision of academics and accountability of staff in Institutions especially at the elementary level and also on the implementation of the various Govt schemes.
It is also to be noted here that the DPCs for the promotion of Headmasters as ZEOs have been witnessing undue delay and is expected to see more of it as the department is taking eternity in updating the seniority of the cadre due to which the entire process is witnessing delay.
The officials said keeping in view the overall situation, the department has deemed assigning the look-after charge fit and has taken a decision in this regard keeping in view the effects of posts of ZEO lying vacant and also the time that the conduct of DPC is going to take further.
“Until that is done, it has been decided to fill up these posts by assigning the charge from the feeding service as per seniority, eligibility,” officials said.
The order that has been issued states that because of administrative exigency and in order to infuse accountability to grass root level, the decision has been taken to assign the look-after charge for the next 6 months, “or till these posts are filled up on regular basis, whichever is earlier.”
Apart from other charges, the officers who have been assigned the look-after charge have also been directed to exercise Drawing and Disbursing Powers in addition to their administrative powers.
Further, it has been noted in the conditions that have been set by the SED, that the officers will get promotion benefits only after being considered in DPC as per seniority, eligibility and accrual of substantive vacancy and other requisite conditions of DPC and after getting clearance from the GAD (Vigilance).
“In case an adverse report is received from ACB, the officer will have no right to claim the placement as ZEO and equivalent and the placement shall be deemed to have been cancelled,” the communication issued here said.
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