Amid the ongoing row between the Governor and the State government over pension for political appointees in Ministers’ the personal staff, the government has brought about a change in the norms for appointing personal staff for municipal chairpersons. An order issued by the Local Self-Government department on February 18 allows the chairpersons to appoint outsiders on a contract basis as their personal assistant, paving the way for political appointments.
Existing rule
As per an order issued in August 2019, the chairpersons had to appoint an employee of the position of lower division clerk or above in the respective local body as their personal assistant. However, the chairman of the Chamber of Municipal Chairpersons had in a letter sent to the Government in November 2021 requested that the chairpersons be allowed to appoint a clerk/personal assistant on contract basis as the existing limitations prevented efficient functioning.
The government order will enable the chairpersons of 87 municipalities in the State to appoint personal staff from outside. The respective local body has to provide the wages for the personal assistant from their own fund.
