Vacancies not reported to PSC; 2560 temporary appointments in KSRTC

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The KSRTC has come up with temporary appointments in 2560 posts without reporting a single vacancy to the PSC destroying the job dreams of the youth.

There was a five-year recruitment ban from 2018 to reduce employees in proportion to the number of buses. The employees were redeployed in the vacancies that arose during this period. With this, the number of permanent employees came down significantly.

The ban ended in 2023. In the last six months, 2,560 people have retired. None of these vacancies are reported to the PSC and temporary employees are being appointed for a lower daily salary.

The temporary appointment is to the posts of reserve driver, assistant depot engineer and mechanic. The CMD has directed all unit and zonal authorities for this. Most of the vacancies are for drivers' posts- 1675. There are also 410 posts of mechanic and 48 posts of assistant depot engineer. The assistant depot engineer is in a promotion post. This is also put for temporary appointment. There will also be temporary appointments in the upcoming retirement vacancies also.

The explanation given by the government is that KSRTC is currently struggling even to provide salaries and hence permanent appointments are not made through PSC. The PSC appointment was last made in 2018. That too after the candidates approached the court stating that they did not get the appointment despite receiving the advice memo. At that time, 1350 reserve conductors were appointed. The recruitment ban happened after that.

Retired can continue

Retiring drivers are allowed to continue as temporary employees. It was temporary appointments on KSRTC Swift. The temporary driver has to pay a deposit of Rs 10,000 and the mechanic Rs 5,000. Even if it's a one-year contract, one can continue to work until the age of 60.

Under the cover of Sabarimala

Temporary appointment was made by saying more employees are needed during the Sabarimala season and more services did not have enough staff.

First salary for a regular driver.......... 25,800

Daily salary for temporary drivers...................... 715

First salary of a permanent mechanic ............. 25,100

Daily salary for temporary mechanics ........................ 715

Assi Depot Engineer First Salary Rs 45,620

Daily salary for temporary post...................... 1200

Permanent employees 8 years ago were 35,120. Now it is 23,000.

1000 services reduced

Prior to the ban on recruitment: 5200

Now: 4000