KOCHI: The post of ‘Driver’ is all set to get a makeover in the state. With the government deciding to add ‘office assistant’ to it, the conventional concept of being a driver with the state government will be a thing of the past.
With the scrapping of post, the Kerala Public Service Commission will henceforth invite applications for ‘driver-cum-office assistant’ post. Officials with the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department (P&ARD) told ‘Express’ that the decision will be implemented only after holding talks with various union leaders.
When asked, P&ARD Secretary K Ajayakumar said discussion with union leaders has been called on Saturday and based on the outcome a call will be taken on the change in nature of the particular post.
“It’s said the move was based on a Kerala High Court order in 2012 directing the government to think about combining the post of driver with that of peon (office assistant) to avoid unnecessary expenditure. The judgment was made while disposing of the petition filed by Unni Jose K Joy.
“The court had pointed out that “It’s high time the government thought of combining the post of driver and that of office assistant. Based on this a panel comprising Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, higher officials with the P&ARD, Finance Department and General Administration Department examined the matter in detail and submitted the proposal to the government,” said K R Jyothilal, Secretary, General Administration Department.
Though the government came out with a similar Order in 2013 it was vague. But the latest one states that there is no need to come out with a separate Special Rule (which deals with the qualification, method of recruitment, appointment, training and related aspects of a particular service) for driver-cum-office assistant and further added that the amendment would be applicable only to new appointments.