No Govt job is a personal fiefdom : Curse of service extension
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: February 25, 2015 -

Late it is but better late than never. An important point which should have been commented upon, the day it made news.

On February 15, The Sangai Express carried an important news on how the Manipur High Court had issued a ruling against service extension of Government employees after their superannuation.

The ruling was issued on February 3 this year, but the news came only on February 14 and made it to the papers on February 15.

This is not against any particular employee whose service has been extended after retirement nor is it about the said particular case, which came up before the High Court.

It is about the attitude and mindset of the Government.

Unemployment is a major issue here and in the absence of big corporate houses, it is the Government which has been the major employer all these years.

Nothing much to suggest that things will improve.

With the private sector coming nowhere near the capability of the Government, starting from the pay to job security and almost every other aspect that makes life more meaningful those helming the affairs of the Government should know what large scale service extension of retired employees will mean to the thousands of educated, talented youngsters who are waiting in the wings.

Unemployment is again one of the major factors for the prevailing law and order situation in the State, for it goes without saying that many of the bright youngsters, who are unable to get meaningful employment, are sure to work out other means not only to earn their livelihood but also to earn a certain degree of ‘respect’.

Not that anyone expects the Government to provide jobs to everyone, but it should at least demonstrate that it will not shelter any excess adipose.

This also gives rise to the question of corruption or any underhand dealings.

Surely not all the employees who have been given service extension are so bright that there cannot be any fit replacement for them.

If that is the case then the Government may create a new job or an ornamental name, but extending their service absolutely makes no sense.

The Court has had its say and it is here that the public too need to come out and speak out their mind.

Hard to fathom why the public have not uttered a single word till now as service extension is a practise that goes back decades.

Not a single voice of protest so far.

Is it that the people here are so generous that they do not mind an individual occupying a Government post as if it is their birth right ?

The indifference has to go. Manipur cannot afford to have anyone treating a Government post as their own personal fiefdom.

Better for the Government to acknowledge and then act accordingly.

Makes no sense to make the employment issue all that more complicated by making someone occupy a post for years after retirement.

Says something significant that the High Court should deem it fit to rap the Government on the knuckles and say no to service extension of some Government employees.