No takers for Odisha tribunal chairman post

Fed up with judges and other senior officials chosen for its Administrative Tribubal not taking up charge, the Odisha government now wants only those who are sure of joining to apply for the post.

The state has begun a headhunting for the post of chairman in Odisha Administrative Tribunal that will fall vacant on June 6, 2014 and a new member, who can take charge on July 12, 2014.

With bad experiences in the past, a senior official in the state’s General Administration Department has shot off letters to registrars of 20 high courts and senior officials in the Centre asking them to circulate the news about vacancy.

P Khuntia, the joint secretary in GA Department, has written letters on November 19 and November 25 seeking applications for the post of member and chairman respectively.

In his letter to registrars seeking recommendations for the post of member, Khuntia said in no uncertain terms, “it is requested that particulars of only those persons may be forwarded who once selected will be joining the Odisha Administrative Tribubal.”

He said it has been their experience that sometimes persons selected for appointment seek extension of time on one pretext or the other and quite often decline to join later without cogent reasons. He said this situation would “vitiate the entire selection exercise”.

In another letter for seeking applications for the post of chairman, he was more curt. “Persons selected for appointment should not seek extension of time on one pretext or the other and to decline to join later, without cogent reasons...” Khuntia was not available for comments.

A senior official said that many people apply for such positions, as it is prestigious. However, it is seen that some people refuse to take up the position after being selected, forcing the government to restart the selection process.