The recruitment process for staff in the Orissa High Court will now witness a major reform with the State’s apex court announcing amendment to Appointment of Staff and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2019.
“In exercise of the powers conferred under Article 229 of the Constitution of India, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Orissa has been pleased to amend The High Court of Orissa (Appointment of Staff and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2019,” the HC said in a notification.
The new rules will now be called "The High Court of Orissa (Appointment of Staffs and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Rules, 2022." It will come into force from the date of publication in the official gazette.
The HC amended the existing Rule 32 of Appointment of Staff and Conditions of Service and stated that all appointments by way of direct recruitment at the entry level to Group-'C' and 'D' posts, except the posts of Junior Stenographers, shall be on contractual basis for a period of three years from the date of initial joining.
“After completion of such period of three years on contractual basis, the incumbents shall be absorbed in the permanent establishment of the Court in the scale of pay admissible to the post,” it said.
Such appointments on contractual basis may be extended for a further of two years in case the performance of the candidates is not satisfactory in the opinion of the Appointing Authority.
“If during the period of contractual appointment, the work or conduct of the candidate is found unsatisfactory in the opinion of the Appointing Authority, his service may be terminated at any point of time without assigning any reason and without servicing any prior notice,” the HC added.
As per the amended rules, in reckoning the period of contractual appointment, the periods relating to extra ordinary leave, unauthorised absent or any other period not on actual duty, shall not be taken into consideration.
The pay and allowance during the period of appointment on contractual basis shall be as per the norms issued from time to time.
Moreover, the seniority among the incumbents to the posts shall be determined on the date of confirmation subject to their respective placement in the select list prepared at the time of recruitment.
Similarly, the court has also amended sub rule (1) of Rule- 33 which deals with fixation of seniority and gradation.
“The Gradation List of the candidates (employees) belonging to Group-'A', Group-'B' and posts of Junior Stenographers under Group-'C' shall be prepared in order of the position secured by them in the competitive examination/assessment test, as the case may be," the notification issued by HC registrar (Judicial) stated.