THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the controversy over contract appointments intensifies, the government has decided to take stern action against the appointing authorities who do not report the vacancies to PSC. This will be ensured by a committee comprising the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms. The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting yesterday.

Vacancies through temporary promotion in cases where seniority is disputed and the court has stayed the regular promotion and issued an interim order will be directed to be reported to PSC. This is to remove barriers to reporting vacancies. There are situations in some departments where promotions do not take place due to lack of qualified officers for promotion. Such promotion posts will be temporarily downgraded to the existing cadre of PSC list and vacancies will be reported. The procedure will be amended as soon as the qualified officers become available.

At the same time, the Cabinet also decided to regularize temporary staff in 410 posts in various departments amid allegations related to the regularization of contract workers.

74 were regularized in the Saksharatha Mission and 34 in the HortiCorp. 300 Vidya Volunteers who have been contract employees for more than ten years in the discontinued Single Teacher Schools will be recruited on seniority basis in the existing or future vacancies in the Department of Public Education.

14 District Project Coordinators, 36 Assistant Project Coordinators, 20 Office Assistants, two drivers and two peons who have completed 10 years of service in Saksharatha Mission will be regularized. In Horticorp, 36 temporary members will be given permanent post after considering the High Court verdict. 206 assistant salesman posts will be reinstated in Supplyco. This is one of the 412 posts previously frozen.