Illegal posting of retired officer as CEO; appointment made without inviting applications

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Employment Guarantee Workers' Welfare Board is ensuring the welfare of the favourites of the government at the very beginning itself. The government is challenging the law by appointing a retired officer as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the board. Lazar A, who retired from the local department as a joint director two months ago, was appointed as the CEO last month.

Section 13 of the Kerala Employment Guarantee Workers' Welfare Rules, 2021 states that a person not below the post of Joint Director in service should be appointed as the CEO. The rule does not permit the appointment of a retired officer. However, the government order comes with a note that the services of Lazar, who led the initial activities of the board, are essential.

The retired person was appointed when there were many officials not less than the post of Joint Director in the Local Government Department. With this, the government will have additional financial liability. This could have been avoided if an in-service person had been appointed as per the Act.

During his service, Lazar was the Joint Development Commissioner in the Employment Guarantee Mission. It was at this stage that the board gave him the additional charge of CEO. A retired officer was given the contract appointment while the next officer could have taken over after his retirement. It is reported that the exchequer will lose more than one lakh rupees per month.

The appointment was made without even inviting applications.

Complaint against Lazar

In October 2022, mission director Abdul Nazar had complained to the principal secretary that the actions of Lazar, who was the joint development commissioner in the employment guarantee mission, were against the code of conduct and that the government should intervene immediately. Irregularities in his handling of files were also pointed out. No action was taken on this.