Chandigarh admin urges faster hiring rule updates

Chandigarh Administration Urges Fast Tracking of Recruitment Rules

After a delay of nearly two years, the Chandigarh administration has directed all administrative secretaries, heads of departments, offices, institutions, boards, and corporations to expedite the process of framing and amending Recruitment Rules to align with the Central government pattern.

An official communication from the department of personnel referred to an earlier decision that allowed the continued operation of existing Recruitment Rules applicable before April 1, 2022. This interim arrangement enabled departments to fill posts through direct recruitment, promotion, and deputation while the finalisation of revised pay scales was in process.

The communication noted that the finance department has notified the Union Territory of Chandigarh Employees (Revised Pay) Rules, 2023, via a notification dated March 29, 2023. Following this, departments were advised to expedite the framing, amendment, and finalisation of Recruitment Rules based on the Central pattern.

The department of personnel reiterated its directions, urging all departments to fast-track the process and ensure early finalisation of Recruitment Rules for their respective posts. Departments must circulate the communication’s contents among all officers and officials for information and compliance.

In March 2024, the then UT adviser Rajiv Verma reviewed the status of Recruitment Rules across various departments and directed the creation or revival of posts and the framing of Recruitment Rules as soon as possible. However, little progress has been made so far.

On March 4, 2024, the UT administration allowed over 1,400 contractual employees working in various departments to continue beyond March 31, with certain conditions. This decision came amid concerns that these employees would lose their jobs due to the abolition of posts that had been vacant for over five years, following Central government guidelines issued in January 2024.

Nearly 1,425 contractual employees are working across more than 40 departments of the UT administration. The then adviser stressed the need for departments to frame Recruitment Rules in a timely manner, noting that many departments rely heavily on contractual staff due to the lack of finalised rules. Departments were also advised to consult the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as needed to ensure timely completion of the rule-framing process along with post creation or revival.

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