One time relaxation for promotion to the rank of Section Officer (OSS)

Odisha Secretariat Service (OSS) cadre is now at such a situation where more than 400 posts of Section Officer (SO) are lying vacant but no Assistant Section Officers (ASO) have eligibility of minimum 8 years of service for promotion. ASOs on the top of the gradation list are going to complete 4years of service in next month. 

This situation arises due to a long interval of 20 years between two successive recruitments for its base level post i.e. ASO ( earlier Junior Assistant). After 1997, the latest recruitments were in 2011-12 (Joined in 2016), 2015-16 Spl Drive (Joined in 2016) and 2018-19 (Joined in 2019) for number of posts of 811, 139 and 500 respectively. 

If we consider the vacancy position of SO, it's nearly 400+ and by 2021, it will reach 500 which is nearly 60% of sanctioned strength of 700.  The ASOs to be promoted to SO do not have the eligibility of 8 years of service. As per the gradation list of ASOs published this year, the 2011-12 batch ASOs are at the top. They are going to complete 4 years of their service in October. Now to streamline the office work, Section Officer posts of each section are to be filled up immediately. 

In this situation, relaxation is the only way to give them promotion. There is a provision under rule 22 in the Odisha Secretariat Service (Method of Recruitment & Conditions of Service) Recruitment Rules, 2016 for relaxation in consultation with OPSC. 

In this regards, a memorandum has been submitted to Principal Secretary, Home Department on behalf of Odisha Secretariat Service Association (OSSA) by its president. Download. Pdf

Last month, another memorandum was submitted by General Secretary, OSSA before Chief Secretary, Odisha for cadre restructuring with increasing posts at higher level as well as ASO level. Download. Pdf

It is to mention here that most of the cadres of State Government have minimum 4-6 year of service for promotion from base level post to the next rank. But it's 8 years in OSS Cadre which was 12 years till 2016. So in different times, memorandum has been submitted to Government to reduce the minimum service period from 8 years to 5-6 years. 

Hope for amendment in rules to reduce eligible year from 8 years to 5-6 years and one time relaxation to nearly 400 ASOs for promotion in 2021. Otherwise, by 2024 most of the higher level posts will remain vacant whereas promotion chain will be stopped at ASO level. It will be an obstacle for next recruitment also.