New Delhi, October 21: A delegation of the Armed Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) Association met Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh and expressed appreciation for the timely promotions being undertaken by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The delegation also thanked the government for providing employee associations with regular opportunities to raise service-related concerns and discuss issues affecting their members.
Dr Jitendra Singh, who holds charge of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences and serves as Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, heard the concerns raised by the delegation and discussed their examination through the appropriate administrative channels.
The delegation was led by Pavan Kumar, National General Secretary (Organisation) of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), and Pankaj Yadav, General Secretary of the AFHQ Association, which is affiliated with BMS and GENC.
During the meeting, the representatives raised several service-related issues concerning employees working at Armed Forces Headquarters, particularly those belonging to the Section Officer cadre. Their concerns included promotional opportunities, recruitment arrangements and compassionate appointments for eligible dependants of deceased employees.
The delegation pointed out that against the vacancies projected through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the Section Officer cadre between 2018 and 2024, only a limited number of candidates had joined. It urged the authorities to examine the issue and consider appropriate measures to address the resulting vacancies.
In response, Dr Jitendra Singh asked the concerned officials to examine the feasibility of rationalising the existing recruitment quota in view of actual recruitment trends and the significant number of unfilled posts. He stressed that the matter should be assessed further before a suitable arrangement is considered.
The delegation also highlighted difficulties faced by families seeking compassionate appointments, raising concerns about delays in processing applications, the existing five per cent quota and the criteria used to determine eligibility.
The discussions covered the challenges faced by dependants awaiting appointments and the administrative and legal implications of any proposed changes. The Minister emphasised the need to consider the prescribed eligibility conditions and assessment criteria while examining the matter.
The meeting focused on taking up the concerns through the relevant administrative channels. No final decision was announced regarding changes to the recruitment quota or the rules governing compassionate appointments.
