Backdoor appointments rampant in ANERT, candidates to seek legal respite

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ANERT is on a spree of regularising former contract employees, ignoring the government's instructions. Out of 106 vacancies, regularisation orders have been issued to about 38 people. The eligible candidates are planning to approach the court regarding this matter.

The contract appointments were made while the vigilance was investigating the corruption and irregularities related to the PM-KUSUM scheme. The irregular appointments made during the tenure of the former Managing Director, who was removed from his post, were regularised. Even after he was removed, the successive management implemented the instructions of the former MD without even conducting a review.

The government directed that vacancies in the state government institution, ANERT, should be reported to the PSC. However, temporary appointments have been made for years, citing that the rules were still not clarified. Temporary appointments should be made through the Employment Exchange. However, temporary appointments in ANERT were being made through a private institution called CMD.

Against this, the Employment Exchange authorities inspected ANERT in 2020 and 2022 and submitted reports. It was also directed to dismiss those who were illegally appointed. None of this was followed. This backdoor appointment comes at a time when about a thousand candidates seeking technical training in ANERT are waiting for the notification for appointment. There is also a case filed in the High Court against this. The decision to make the contract appointees permanent at a time of election campaigning was a deliberate move to allay any controversy.