KERALA STATE REMOTE SENSING AND ENVIRONMENT CENTRE (KSREC) RECRUITMENT AND PROMOTION RULES, 2020

PREAMBLE

Government of Kerala hereby make the following rules for the recruitment and promotion of the Staff of Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre (K.S.R.E.C.).

Rule - 1. Short title.

These rules shall be called Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre (KSREC) Recruitment and Promotion Rules 2020.

1.1  These rules shall govern recruitment, assessment and promotion of staff of the KSREC.

1.2 They shall come into force at once.

Rule - 2. Definitions.

2.1 Discipline means the specialization in which the scientists are assessed for promotion.

2.2 Scientist means Research and Development scientific staff expected to generate, develop, disseminate, manage and protect new knowledge/methods/technique by research, development and extension.

2.3 Administrative Staff means staff related with the administrative matters of the Centre.

2.4 Selection Committee means Selection Committee specified under Rule 5.

2.5 Internal Screening Committee means Committee specified under Rule 10.

2.6 Assessment Committee means Committee specified under the Rule 11.1.

Rule - 3. Category.

Categories covered under these rules shall be such as may be determined by the Government of Kerala from time to time. The rules shall consist of the following categories of officers.

Rule - 4. Qualification, Experience for Recruitment.

4.1 The minimum qualification, experience and upper age limit for recruitment of staff at all levels are given below:

Rule - 5. Recruitment.

5.1  Direct recruitment to posts shall be made by inviting applications. The notification inviting applications should be published in at least one leading Malayalam language daily (all editions) and one leading English language daily (all southern editions). Reasonable time may be allowed to the prospective candidates to apply for the post.

5.2   Select list shall be prepared based on written test and interview. Written test shall be conducted by a suitable external Govt. Agency as decided by Govt. from time to time.

5.3   Validity of the select list shall be one year from the date of the approval by the Executive Committee.

5.4   Notwithstanding anything contained in rule, the Authority may with the sanction of the Executive Committee, appoint employees on contract basis as administrative staff subject to the condition that:

(i)       They should execute an agreement in Appendix I KSRs Part I and they may be sanctioned leave as per Appendix VIII of KSRs Part I.

 

(ii)      Such employees should possess the qualifications prescribed in these rules.

 

(iii)     Qualified employees are not available in the Centre.

 

(iv)    There should be vacant post to accommodate the person so appointed.

 

(v)      Pay of the person appointed on contract will be restricted to the minimum of the scale of pay + DA.

 

(vi)    The tenure of the appointment will be one year at a time.

Rule - 6. Age.

6.1   For categories 3, 4 and 5 no person shall be eligible for appointment by Direct Recruitment if he/she has not completed the minimum of 25 years of age or if he/she has completed the maximum of 40 years of age on the first day of the January of the year in which applications for appointment are invited.

6.2   For categories 6 to 9 no person shall be eligible for appointment by Direct Recruitment if he/she has not completed the minimum of 20 years of age or if he/she has completed the maximum of 36 years of age on the first day of the January of the year in which applications for appointment are invited.

6.3   The usual relaxation to upper age limit entitled to SC/ST candidates and OBC are also applicable in these cases.

6.4   Age limit will be relaxed in the case of ex-service men to the extent of the period of service put in by them in defence forces and the period of unemployment on discharge up to a maximum of five years

6.5   Upper age limit will be raised up to 10 years in the case of orthopedically handicapped persons. They should produce certificate from a medical officer in the State Government Service not below the rank of Civil Surgeon Grade to prove that they are orthopedically handicapped

6.6  The period of experience in the requisite discipline area of which shall be counted with effect from the date of acquiring prescribed minimum educational qualifications required for grade.

Rule - 7. Selection Committee.

7.1    There shall be a Selection Committee consisting of following members for selection to the scientific categories:

7.2    There shall be a Selection Committee consisting of following members for selection to the administrative categories:

7.3    The quorum for the meeting shall be three members including the Chair person and one of the experts.

7.4   The term of committee so constituted shall be three years.

7.5   Where the posts are reserved for SC/ST candidates or where SC/ST candidates are under consideration along with general category candidates for the post, a member of SC/ST community shall invariably be included in the Selection Committee.

7.6   Vacancies for which the selections are required to be made by the Selection Committee shall be decided by the Centre with the approval of the Executive Committee of the Centre. The vacancies shall be advertised at least in one Malayalam language daily (all editions) and one English language daily (southern editions) by the Centre.

7.7   The applications in response to the advertisement shall be received by the Centre.

7.8 The meeting of the Selection Committee shall be held at the Centre.

Rule - 8. Probation.

Every person appointed to any of the categories shall from the date on which he/she joins duty be in probation

(a)      when appointed by direct recruitment, for a period of two years on duty within a continuous period of three years.

(b)      when appointed in a post or category from another post or category, where direct recruitment is not resorted to, for a period of one year on duty within a continuous period of two years and where direct recruitment is resorted; for a period of two years on duty within a continuous period of three years

Rule - 9. Place of Work.

Scientists in the Centre shall be liable to serve anywhere in Kerala or as required by Government.

Rule - 10. Appointing Authority.

The Appointing Authority in respect of categories 1 to 5 shall be the Government. The Appointing Authority in respect of categories 6 to 9 shall be the Director KSREC.

Rule - 11. Promotion.

11.1 Promotion of scientists from one category to that of the higher one shall be made on the basis of the report submitted by the Assessment Committee.

11.2 Promotion of scientists governed by the rules shall be made on the basis of-

(i)       Preliminary screening by an Internal Screening Committee formed as per Rule 12.1, which takes into account the Annual Assessment Reports (AAR) recorded for the years covered under the residency period and

(ii)      Interview by the Assessment Committee constituted as per Rule 5.1.

11.3 The minimum residency period to be completed in a category for consideration for assessment shall be as follows:

11.4 The period spent on deputation to a non-scientific post, period of leave including leave on medical grounds, leave without salary, etc., availed on personal grounds shall not count towards the minimum residency period.

11.5 Scientists shall be first screened for eligibility on the basis of grading of the Annual Assessment Reports (AARs) and those Scientists who satisfy the minimum residency period linked to their performance threshold scores as indicated below shall be considered for further assessment.

Number of years in the grade

Minimum average percentage of AAR scores for eligibility

11.6 Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules a relaxation of one year in the minimum residency period can be granted to Scientist-B, Senior Scientific Assistant and Junior Scientific Assistant provided that she/he consistently secures 90% and above marks in the Annual Assessment Reports in three successive years in the grade. This provision shall be applicable maximum twice in the service of a scientist.

11.7 Employees who remain in their entry posts in the category 3 will be granted one higher grade promotion on completion of 8 years of service, based on recommendation of the Assessment Committee. Completion of 8 years of service in the post of Scientist B is required for further Grade.

11.8 Employees who remain in their entry posts in the category 4 and 5 will be granted two time bound higher grades, the first on completion of 8 years of service in the entry post and the second on completion of 15 years of total service in the entry post and first promotion post/higher grade taken together, based on recommendation of the Assessment Committee. Junior Scientific Assistant will be taken as the entry post.

11.9 Employees who remain in their entry posts in the category 6 to 7 will be granted three higher grades on completion of the specified periods of service in their posts in accordance with State Government rules, based on recommendation of the Assessment Committee.

11.10 Employees who remain in their entry posts in the category 8 to 9 will be granted four higher grades oh completion of the specified periods of service in their posts in accordance with State Government rules, based on recommendation of the Assessment Committee.

Rule - 12. Internal Screening Committee.

12.1 There shall be an Internal Screening Committee consisting of following members for the scientific categories:

12.2 The quorum shall be 3 including the Chairman and two members.

Rule - 13. Assessment.

13.1 There shall be an Assessment Committee consisting of the following members for the scientific categories:

13.2 There shall be an Assessment Committee consisting of following members for the administrative categories:.

13.3 The scientist to be assessed shall submit Part 2A, Part 2B, Part 2C of the Comprehensive Work Report approved by Government vide G.O. (Ms.) No. 25/15/PIg. dated 11/06/2015 along with the Annual Assessment Report (Confidential Report). It shall be placed before the Assessment Committee after completing Part 1 of the Comprehensive Work Report. The Director of the Centre will be the Reporting authority. If more than one officer held the charge of the Director during the Assessment year, then the recommendation of the officer, who had held the charge of the Director for more than three months, may be obtained. The Secretary, Planning & Economic Affairs Department will be the Reviewing authority.

13.4 Administrative staff to be assessed shall submit Performance Appraisal form. The Accounts Officer of the Centre will be the Reporting authority. If more than one officer held the charge of the Accounts Officer during the Assessment year, then the recommendation of the officer, who had held the charge of the Accounts Officer for more than three months, may be obtained. Director, KSREC will be the Reviewing authority.

13.5 The Assessment Committee shall submit its recommendations as 'Fit for promotion' or 'Not fit for promotion'. The decisions of the Assessment Committee shall be final.

13.6 Scientists recommended by the Committee as 'Fit for promotion' shall be so promoted from the due date of eligibility for assessment. Scientists who are found 'Not fit for promotion' will be considered after a gap of one year if they are again recommended by the Internal Screening Committee.

13.7 Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, employees those who have been assessed and promoted under these rules shall be considered on par with regular promotion and their pay will be fixed under the Service Rules of the Centre.

13.8 In case of a Scientist assessed and found fit for promotion but is unable to assume charge of the higher grade on effective date for being away on study leave (combined with any other leave) sanctioned by the competent authority, for pursuing higher studies or receiving specialized training in professional and technical subjects having a direct or close connection with the Centre Programmes, on resumption he may reckon notional seniority in the higher grade from the date of his selection to that grade for the purpose of continuing of residency period for considering for promotion to the next higher grade, provided the Director of the Centre is satisfied about the performance of the Scientist during the course of study/training.

Rule - 14. Procedure for Assessment who is under Suspension/Against whom Disciplinary Proceedings are Pending.

The Assessment of an officer who is under suspension/against whom disciplinary proceedings are pending shall not be eligible for assessment until the disposal of the disciplinary proceedings. Officer not considered for assessment due to suspension or disciplinary proceedings if subsequently exonerated of the charges shall be assessed at the first opportunity. Assessment promotion in such cases shall be given if found fit with retrospective effect from the due date on which the employee would have normally been assessed but for the suspension and disciplinary proceedings. Persons punished by disciplinary proceedings shall be considered for assessment only after effect of the period of punishment.

Rule - 15. Annual Assessment Report (AAR).

15.1 Annual Assessment Report (AAR) is to be prepared in the form approved by Government as per G.O.(Ms) No. 25/2015/Plg dated 11/06/2015. Copy of the Government Order with the format for Comprehensive Work Report and Annual Assessment Report is appended as Annexure.

15.2 The main objective of assessment reports shall be to record achievements and reveal drawbacks on the part of an employee without fear, favour or ill-will and is directed to create confidence and a sense of awareness among the employees that they are being watched and cared for by the Centre.

15.3. Reports shall be designed to record a careful and critical assessment to bring out:

(a)      How far an employee has discharged the duties and responsibilities for the smooth and efficient working of the Centre.

 

(b)      Behaviour of the employee towards his/her subordinates, colleagues, superiors and general public.

 

(c)      General character and conduct of the employee to promote high standards of discipline and integrity.

 

(d)      Employee's ability to work and knowledge of work and how far she/he has applied intelligently the knowledge and ability to work.

 

(e)      Appreciation of the achievements, and

 

(f)       Drawbacks on the part of the employee calling for corrective action.

15.4. Reports shall be real, free and frank assessment of one's knowledge, ability and integrity so as to judge the employee's capacity for a different or higher or more responsible position in the Centre.

15.5. Assessment reports shall also aim at making the employee to do the present job better, to correct the deficiencies observed with a view to improve his/her efficiency.

15.6 Reports shall be written for every calendar year immediately after the year. Such reports shall be written for a part of a calendar year when there is change in reporting authority provided the employee has worked with the reporting authority for a period not less than three months in that calendar year..

15.7 Special reports shall be written in respect of an employee if required by the Reviewing authority for any purpose that it may consider necessary.

15.8 All reports relating to a calendar year after reviewed by the appropriate authorities shall be sent to the Director of the Centre in sealed covers by 31st of January of the next year. The Director shall be the custodian of the assessment reports of scientific and administrative staff.

15.9 Every employee shall have an opportunity to know the defects/adverse remarks in his assessment report. For this purpose the Reviewing Authority shall indicate the remarks of the Reporting or Reviewing Authority to be communicated to the employee to enable the employee to correct the defect and also to improve himself.

15.10 Every employee shall be given an opportunity to represent against the remarks in the assessment report, which he/she feels unjustified. Such representation shall be made to the Reviewing Authority and an appeal against the decision of the Reviewing Authority shall be made to the Chairman of the Governing Body.

15.11 Scientists who leave the service of the Centre on their own including voluntary retirement, shall not be entitled for any assessment over and above the assessment(s) if any already availed, even if it may relate to the period when they were in Centre. However for those scientists who retire on superannuation or pass away while in service shall be considered for assessment from the due date of eligibility. The cases of the deceased shall be decided by the Assessment Committee on the basis of their Annual Assessment Reports.

Rule - 16. Relinquishment of Right.

Any person may in writing shall relinquish any right or privilege to which she/he may be entitled under these rules but such rights relinquished once shall not be restored without the specific sanction of the Executive Committee.

Rule - 17. Savings.

There may be employees appointed prior to issue of these rules who do not have the qualifications prescribed in these rules. They shall also be considered for assessment under these rules on par with the employees who have the qualifications prescribed in these rules.

Appointments and promotions made after the commencement of these rules shall be deemed to have been made in accordance with these rules. 

ANNEXURE

PLANNING & ECONOMIC AFFAIRS (B) DEPARTMENT

Read:

1.        G.O. (Ms.) No. 7/2000/Plg. dated 09/02/2000.

 

2.        G.O. (Ms.) No. 62/05/Plg. dated 09/09/2005.

 

3.        G.O. (Ms.) No. 56/14/Plg. dated 20/12/2014.

 

4.        Interim order of the Hon'ble High Court in WP (C) No. 6107/2015(K) dated 26-2-2015 filed by Dr. B. Rameshkumar and Dr. R. V. Sheeja.

 

5.        Letter. No. A-64/2012/KSREC dated 21/03/2015 from the Director, KSREC, Thiruvananthapuram.

ORDER

As per G.O. read as 1st paper above Government have issued the Service-Rules of Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre and the same was amended as per G.O. read as 2nd paper above. Based on the Service Rules an Assessment Committee was constituted for studying the scope of granting promotion to the Scientific staff of KSREC as per 3rd G.O. read above. In the context of giving promotion to the Scientific Staff of the Centre, it has become necessary to finalise the Confidential Report and Work Report of Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre and also to fix the Reporting and the Reviewing Authority.

The Hon'ble High Court in its interim order dated 26/02/2015 in WP (C) No. 6107/2015 (K) filed by Dr. B. Rameshkumar & Dr. R. V. Sheeja, directed the 1st respondent i.e., Government of Kerala, to complete the assessment formalities in respect of the petitioner within one month. In the circumstances reported by the Director, Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre as per 4th paper read above, after due consideration, Government are pleased to finalise the Confidential Report and Work Report as appended to this order and also designate the Director, KSREC as the Reporting Authority and the Additional Chief Secretary, Planning and Economic Affairs Department as the Reviewing Authority.

KERALA STATE REMOTE SENSING AND ENVIRONMENT CENTRE

APPLICATION FOR ASSESSMENT PROMOTION FOR SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL

(Comprehensive Work Report)

PART-1

(To be filled in by the Office)

PART-2A

(To be filled in by the Reviewer)

1.        Education:

(a)      Major Field of the highest degree and the one lower to that.

 

(b)      Highest degree specialization and Subjects along with title of thesis If any.

 

(c)      Next lower degree specialization and Subjects.

 

2.        Additional qualifications/training acquired in India and/or abroad; (list of all part-time or Short-term training, not included in educational career. Give dates, duties and duration of course.

3.        What were the priority areas of the work during the past five years of your service ending 31st March. Please mark priorities against each area as 1, 2, 3 etc. One being the highest and so on; and indicates the percentage of time approximately allotted to each priority area. (Normally, you could not assign more than three priorities. An area should be considered a priority area, only if it takes at least 25% of your working time.)

4.        How would you rate your overall performance

5.        Is there any work other than your present job/assignment that you would like to do in the centre or outside? (Proposed future activities) -

If Yes, please indicate

PART-2B

PROJECT IMPLIMENTATION PERFORMANCES INDICATORS

(To be filled in by the Reviewee)

This part is intended to be both an evaluation as well as a projection of a future programme of action. It seeks information on past performance and projected output of work. Inability to meet projected targets/expectations next year, would not necessarily mean insufficient or poor performance. Due consideration will be given to the reasons for not completing certain projected targets. Proper care should, however, be taken in making future projections, for you may have to evaluate your performance next year the objectives you set for yourself now. Please indicate numbers only.

PART-2C

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT/ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

 

Date:

PART-3

FOR THE USE OF THE REVIEWER

18.   Is the information provided by the reviewee correct to the best of your knowledge?

19.   Do you generally agree with the assessment and the projection provide by the reviewee? Please give your critical appraisal.

 

PART-4

20.   Recommendation of the Director/Chairman, Assessment Committee of the Centre.

KERALA STATE REMOTE SENSING AND ENVIRONMENT CENTRE

PART-1

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED BY SCIENTIST/TECHNICAL PERSONNEL FOR SUBSEQUENT ASSESSMENT FOR GRANT OF MERIT PROMOTION

(To be filled in by the Office)

Statement showing the weightage

Confidential Report

Project Implementation

Research and Development/Academic Performance Indicators

KERALA STATE REMOTE SENSING AND ENVIRONMENT CENTRE

FORM-3

ANNUAL ASSESSMENT REPORT

(Confidential Report)

(For Scientific Personnel)

PART-1

(To be filled in by the Administration Division)

 

PART-II

(To be filled in by the scientist personnel concerned)

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION

Scientific, technical and academic qualifications (in the reverse chronological order)

Underline any qualification obtained during the period of this report.

Membership in professional bodies/societies/institutions. Underline the ones obtained during the period of this report.

NATURE OF WORK in which engaged during the period of this report. List out publications issued during the period other than routine reports. Reference may be made here to specific achievement outside the scope of normal duties.

PART-III

ASSESSMENT OF THE REPORTING AUTHORITY

Report on………………..........................Designation.................................................. Report for the period from…………….....................to................................................. Length of service under Assessor from…………...............to................................ Assessor's name in Block Capitals.......................................................... Grade.............................. Scale:..........................................................

GENERAL REMARKS

Make any general comments you think desirable, e.g. special remarks on any characteristics not brought out so far. Do you agree with the account of his/her work on pages 2, 3 and 4 of the Assessment Report or is there anything you wish to modify or add? Has he specialized? If so, in what field? If you have any marking where 'X applies' or 'Y applies' please comment.

PART-IV

REMARKS OF THE REVIEWING AUTHORITY

1.        Do you agree with the account of the work on the page 2, 3 & 4 of this form? Is there anything you wish to modify or add?

 

2.        Do you agree with the markings of the reporting authority? Is there any important differences, please indicate.

 

3.        Assessment of the Scientist's personnel's overall worth irrespective of age (Please initial and put a ring round the appropriate mark below and strike out whatever is inapplicable).

A++ Exceptionally brilliant

A+ Outstanding A Well above average standard

B+ Good average man

B Average, reasonably competent

C Indifferent but just worth retaining

D Not worth retaining in the present grade If marking is C or D, you should comment fully under general remarks (Paragraph 4).

4.        (a) General Remarks:

(b) Assessment of integrity:

5.        Has the Scientist personnel been informed of any marking below "Normal" with which you agree? If he has not been, please say why?