Himachal Pradesh, Horticultural Services, Class-I (Gazetted) Recruitment And Promotion (First Amendment) Rules, 2021

[29 April 2021]

No. HTC-A(3)-2/2020.-In exercise of the powers conferred by proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India, the Governor, Himachal Pradesh, in consultation with the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission, is pleased to make the following rules to amend the Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Services, Class-I (Gazetted), Recruitment and Promotion Rules, 2018 notified vide this Department's Notification No. Udyan-Kha(7)-8/92-Vol.-V, dated 30th May, 2018 and published in the Rajpatra, Himachal Pradesh dated 2nd June, 2018, namely:-

Rule - 1. Short title and commencement :-

(1)     These rules may be called the Himachal Pradesh, Horticultural Services, Class-I (Gazetted) Recruitment and Promotion (First Amendment) Rules, 2021.

(2)     These rules shall come into force from the date of publication in Rajpatra (e-Gazette) Himachal Pradesh.

Rule - 2. Amendment of Annexure-"A" :-

In Annexure-"A" appended to the Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Services, Class-I (Gazetted) Recruitment and Promotion Rules, 2018 (hereinafter referred to as the "said rules"),-

(a)      for the provisions against column No. 7, the following shall be substituted , namely:-

"(a) Essential Qualification(s): M.Sc. Horticulture/Agriculture in any one of thefollowing disciplines/ subjects:-Pomology, Fruit Breeding & Genetic Resources, Post Harvest Technology/Fruit Technology, Floriculture & Land Scaping, Mycology & Plant Pathology/Entomology & Apiculture or Biotechnology, Vegetable Crops, Microbiology, Soil Science & Water Management, Agriculture Economics & Agriculture Statistics, Agriculture Extension, M.Sc. Food Technology, Master of Science (Horticulture) Fruit Science, Master of Science (Horticulture) Vegetable Science, Master of Science (Horticulture) Floriculture and Land scape Architecture, Master of Science (Agriculture) Plant Pathology, Master of Science (Agriculture) Entomology, Master of Science (Agriculture) Nematology, Master of Science (Agriculture), Seed Science and Technology, Master of Science (Agriculture) Soil Science, Master of Science (Agriculture), Agricultural Economics, Master of Science Food Technology, Master of Science Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Master of Science Microbiology, Master of Science Statistics and Post Graduate Associate ship in Fruit and Vegetable Technology equivalent to M.Sc. Horticulture (Post Harvest Technology) and Master of Science (Agriculture) specialization in Plant Breeding & Genetics. However, the incumbent should be B.Sc.(Hort.) in four years degree program.

(b)      DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION(S).-Knowledge of customs, manner and dialects of Himachal Pradesh and suitability for appointment in the peculiar conditions prevailing in the Pradesh.";

(c)      for the provisions of first para of Column No. 11, the following shall be substituted, namely:-

"By promotion from amongst Horticulture Extension Officer/Demonstrator having B.Sc. Degree in Horticulture/Agriculture from a recognized University with 07 years regular or regular combined with continuous adhoc service, if any in the grade":

Provided that for the purpose of promotion a combined seniority list of the eligible incumbents of the posts of Horticulture Extension Officer and Demonstrator on the basis of the length of service without disturbing their cadre-wise inter-se seniority shall be prepared:

Provided further that for filling up the posts of Horticulture Development Officer, the following 02 point post based roster shall be followed:-

Note.-The roster will be repeated after 2nd point till the representation of each category is achieved by the given percentage and thereafter the vacancy shall be filled up from the category which vacates the post.";

(d)      for the provisions against Column No. 15-A(VII)(b), the following shall be substituted, namely:-

(e)      The service of contract appointee will be purely on temporary basis. The appointment is liable to be terminated in case the performance/ conduct of the contract appointee is not found satisfactory. In case the contract appointee is not satisfied with the termination orders issued by the Appointing Authority, he/she may prefer an appeal before the Appellate Authority who shall be higher in rank to the Appointing Authority, within a period of 45 days, from the date on which a copy of termination orders is delivered to him/her."; and

(f)       for the provisions against 15-A(VII)(f), the following shall be substituted, namely:-

(g)      Selected candidate will have to submit a certificate of his/her fitness issued by a Medical Board in the case of a Gazetted Government servant and by Government Medical Officer in the case of a Non-Gazetted Government servant. In case of women candidates who are to be appointed against posts carrying hazardous nature of duties, and in case they have to complete a period of training as a condition of service, such woman candidate, who as a result of tests is found to be pregnant of twelve weeks standing or more shall be declared temporarily unfit and her appointment shall be held in abeyance until the confinement is over. Such woman candidate be re-examined for medical fitness six weeks after the date of confinement, and if she is found fit on production of medical fitness certificate from the authority as specified above, she may be appointed to the post kept reserved for her.".

Rule - 3. Amendment of Annexure-"B" :-

(a)      In Annexure-"B" appended to the "said rules" for the provisions of terms and conditions No. 3, the following shall be substituted, namely:-

"3. The service of contract appointee will be purely on temporary basis. The appointment is liable to be terminated in case the performance/ conduct of the contract appointee is not found satisfactory. In case the contract appointee is not satisfied with the termination orders issued by the Appointing Authority, he/she may prefer an appeal before the Appellate Authority who shall be higher in rank to the Appointing Authority, within a period of 45 days, from the date on which a copy of termination orders is delivered to him/her."; and

(b)      for the provisions of terms and condition No.7, the following shall be substituted, namely:-

"7. Selected candidate will have to submit a certificate of his/her fitness issued by a Medical Board in the case of a Gazetted Government servant and by Government Medical Officer in the case of a Non-Gazetted Government servant. In case of women candidate who are to be appointed against posts carrying hazardous nature of duties, and in case they have to complete a period of training as a condition of service, such woman candidate, who as a result of tests is found to be pregnant of twelve weeks standing or more shall be declared temporarily unfit and her appointment shall be held in abeyance until the confinement is over. Such woman candidate be re-examined for medical fitness six weeks after the date of confinement, and if she is found fit on production of medical fitness certificate from the authority as specified above, she may be appointed to the post kept reserved for her."