BBMP bins eligibility criteria as it plans to promote engineers

Bengaluru: In gross violation of the rulebook, the BBMP plans to appoint eight new chief engineers by promoting those who do not have the prerequisite experience or fulfil the eligibility criteria. While the Cadre and Recruitment (C&R) rules of the BBMP prescribe a minimum service of three years as superintending engineer (SE), all the eight engineers recommended for promotion do not qualify for the coveted post, documents accessed by DH show.

Last week, BBMP’s Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath sent the proposal to the Urban Development department (UDD) seeking a one-time relaxation to promote eight engineers to the post of chief engineers (CEs). The proposal, which comes at a time when the BBMP was labelled the “first enemy” of Bengaluru by the High Court, might set a wrong precedent.

Usually, such en masse requests for promotion are not sought as it is against the rulebook. Also, the BBMP does not have enough vacant posts. The civic body has reportedly created posts to accommodate the yet-to-be promoted chief engineers. After promotion, the CEs come under the salary bracket of Rs 90,500 to Rs 1.23 lakh a month.

Almost all eight have just one year of experience as superintending engineers. Some have cases against them in Anti-Corruption Bureau, now merged with the Lokayukta.

Tushar Girinath told DH that he has forwarded proposal to government for approval. “A few chief engineers are holding multiple posts due to shortage of senior engineers. There is provision to create up to 18 posts of chief engineers in C&R rules,” he said.

However, some superintending engineers recommended for promotion are already holding posts of incharge chief engineers. “There was no need to seek one-time relaxation when they are already enjoying senior-scale post,” BBMP sources said.

DyCM's letter

DyCM D K Shivakumar has written to the CM, urging him to post superintending engineer B G Raghavendra Prasad as chief engineer of BBMP’s road infrastructure division.

The letter comes months after High Court stayed transfer of 17 BBMP officials, including engineers and health inspectors, over political interference. Earlier, court had stayed appointment of Nithin V, first division assistant at Silkworm Seed Production Centre in Sulibele as revenue inspector (Yelahanka zone). He was posted on Shivakumar's orders.