KSRTC MD's remarks sow fear in new conductor recruits
Thachankary said that the new recruits, who had secured appointment through the PSC and would now replace the ousted empanelled conductors, would not be regularised soon.
Thachankary said that the new recruits, who had secured appointment through the PSC and would now replace the ousted empanelled conductors, would not be regularised soon.
Thachankary said that the new recruits, who had secured appointment through the PSC and would now replace the ousted empanelled conductors, would not be regularised soon.
KSRTC chairman and managing director Tomin J Thachankary said on Wednesday that the recruitment and induction of the new conductors, which would normally take more than a month, would be completed in a week. Thachankary also said that the new recruits, who had secured appointment through the PSC and would now replace the ousted empanelled conductors, would not be regularised soon.
“They will be regularised only after assessing their performance,” he said. Thachankary also added that the new recruits would not be given the salary proposed by the PSC. The MD's comments came as a surprise as it was normal for the new recruits to have a probation period of one year during which they would be paid less.
There was generally no need for the MD to stress the point. It was already understood. The PSC appointment order clearly states that there will be a probation period of one year or 240 days from the date of joining duty, whichever is earlier. “By showing that he was not particularly enthusiastic about the new recruits, the MD must have been trying to soothe the emotions of the empanelled conductors who have lost their jobs,” a top KSRTC official said.
The new recruits, after their documents are vetted, will be posted to various depots. There will be an orientation course for two days. Usually, it is conducted for all the recruits together at the Staff Training College. Considering the urgency, these new recruits will be given training at their respective depots. Then, the new recruits will have to write a conductor licence examination.
The KSRTC MD made an intriguing comment about the conductor test, too. “They will have to write this test well. KSRTC officials do not have a magic wand that will allow all of them to pass the test,” Thachankary said. This has caused concern among new recruits. Will the question paper for the conductor test be made impossibly tough or will some of them be purposefully failed as revenge for the High Court verdict? The test is traditionally considered a mere formality.
However, it is felt that empanelled conductors could get back their jobs even without such dubious methods. KSRTC sources said that only less then 1500 of the 4051 candidates for whom the PSC advice has been sent will report for the job. This shortage can be used by the Corporation to convince the High Court of the importance of empanelled conductors.
The reserve conductor rank list was first published on May 9, 2013. Initially, 13,563 candidates were given advice by the PSC. Appointment orders were issued by KSRTC for 9512 candidates in various stages. The last 4051 were given the advice on December 31, 2016. But appointment orders were not issued for over two years. It were some among the last batch to receive the advice who had gone to court pointing out the huge delay in getting appointment letters. According to rules, the appointment orders have to be issued by the departments concerned within three months of the PSC furnishing the advice.