Assam Agricultural Engineering Service Rules, 1983
No: -- Dated: Jun, 07 1983
Assam Agricultural Engineering Service Rules, 1983
Notification No. ACA 253/80, dated 7th June, 1983. - In exercise of the powers conferred by proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Assam is pleased to make the following rules regulating the recruitment to and the conditions of service of the persons appointed to the Assam Agricultural Engineering Service.
1. Title and commencement. - (1) These rule shall be called the Assam Agricultural Engineering Service Rules, 1983.
(2) They shall take effect from the date of this notification.
2. Definitions. - In these rules, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context-
(a) 'Appointing Authority' means the governor of Assam.
(b) 'Board' means the Selection Board constituted under Rule 15;
(c) 'Commission' means the Assam Public Service Commission;
(d) 'Constitution' means the Constitution of India;
(e) 'Government' means the Government of Assam;
(f) 'Governor' means the Governor of Assam;
(g) 'Member' means a member of the Assam Agricultural Engineering Service;
(h) 'Select list' means the list as referred to in Rules 6 (1) (e), 13 (6) and 14 (3);
(i) 'Services' means the Assam Agricultural Engineering Service; and
(j) 'Year' means a calendar year.
3. Class and cadre. - The service shall consist of the following clauses and cadres :
(a) Class I. It shall include the cadres-
(i) Chief Engineer, Agriculture;
(ii) Superintending Engineer, Agriculture;
(iii) Executive Engineer, Agriculture.
(b) Class II. It shall include the cadre of Sub-divisional Agricultural Engineers and Assistant Agricultural Engineers.
(c) Class II (Junior Grade). It shall include the cadre of Foremen, Foremen (Mechanics) and Foremen (Instructors).
(d) The Service may also include-
(i) any post equivalent to a post in any of the cadre mentioned in sub-rule (a).
(ii) any cadre or post laid down by Government to be included in a cadre of the service.
(e) The posts equivalent to the posts in the cadres of the service, as on the date of commencement of these rules are mentioned in Schedule I.
4. Strength of service. - The strength of each cadre in a class of the service shall be such as determined by the Governor from time to time. The strength of the cadres of the service on the date of commencement of these rules shall as shown in Schedule I:
Provided that the Governor may hold in abeyance any post as and when considered necessary.
5. Method of recruitment. - Recruitment of Class II of the Service shall be made-
(a) by direct recruitment on the basis of selection made in accordance with Rule 6;
(b) by promotion in accordance with Rule 11;
(c) Recruitment to Class I shall be made by promotion only in accordance with Rule 12.
6. (1) Subject to sub-rule (3) of Rule 11 direct recruitment of cadre of Class II and Class II (Junior Grade) shall be made by the Governor on the basis of selection made by the Commission in accordance with the procedure hereinafter provided :
(a) Before the end of each year the Government shall make an assessment regarding the likely number of vacancies to be filled up by direct recruitment during the next year and shall intimate the same to the Commission together with the details about reservation for candidates belonging to the Schedule Castes, Scheduled Tribes or any other category as laid down by Government as provided under Rule 17 and about carry forward of such reservation;
(b) The Governor shall simultaneously request the Commission to recommend a list of candidates for direct recruitment, in order of preference;
(c) The Commission shall make the selection in accordance with the scheme of selection prescribed by the Government in consultation with the Commission. The Commission may hold such test or interview and undertake scrutiny of publications and other documents, as may be considered necessary.
(d) The Commission shall furnish Government with a list of candidates recommended by it in order of preference, found suitable for direct recruitment the number of candidates in such number of vacancies;
(e) The Commission shall simultaneously publish the list in the Assam Gazette and at such other place as the Commission may consider proper.
(2) The list mentioned in Clauses (d) and (e) of sub-rule (1) of this rule shall remain valid for 12 calendar months from the date of recommendation.
(3) In the event of the Commission being unable to recommend sufficient number of candidates to fill up the vacancies in a year, it shall, in consultation with the Appointing Authority, repeat the procedure as mentioned hereinbefore under sub-rule (1) of this rule, for recommending a subsequent list in the year :
Provided that the Appointing Authority shall not make appointment of any candidate from the subsequent select list until all the candidates of the earlier list of the same year, eligible for appointment, have been offered the appointment.
7. A candidate shall not be less than 21 years and more than 30 years of age on the First January of the year of recruitment, with relaxation in case of candidates belonging to special categories like Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or any other category as laid down by the Government in accordance with the general orders of the Government in force :
Provided that the maximum age limit in case of candidates for direct recruitment against the posts in Class II (Junior Grade) shall be 35 years on the first January of the year of recruitment.
8. Academic qualification. - The academic qualifications of a candidate for direct recruitment shall be as prescribed by the Governor from time to time. The qualifications and experience prescribed, as on the date of these rules coming into force, are given in Schedule II.
9. Physical fitness. - A candidate for direct recruitment shall be -
(1) of sound health, both mentally and physically and free from organic defect or bodily infirmity likely to interfere with the efficient performance of his duties; and
(2) required to undergo medical examination before appointment to the service.
10. A candidate for direct recruitment shall produce to the Commission certificate of good character from -
(a) the principal Academic Officer of the University or College in which he studied last, and
(b) two respectable persons, who are well acquainted with (but not related to) the candidate.
11. Recruitment by promotion in Class II (Junior Grade). - (1) The Appointing Authority shall publish in the Assam Gazette annually the number of vacancies in each cadre in Class II and Class II (Junior Grade) of the service, which have occurred or are likely to occur in the year.
(2) Subject to suitability as may be decided by the Board and by the Appointing Authority in consultation with the Commission, and also subject to possessing the qualifications, training and experience, as set forth herein below an officer belonging to the cadre of Mechanics and Instructors in agricultural trades in Subordinate Agricultural Engineering Service shall be eligible for promotion to the cadre of Foremen and Assistant Agricultural Engineer in the manner provided in Rules 13 and 14.
(3) 25 per cent, of vacancies is Class I and Class II (Junior Grade) in a year shall be filed up by promotion, subject to availability of suitable candidates, provided that any shortfall of this reservation due to non-availability of adequate number of suitable candidates in a particular year shall be carried forward to the subsequent year(s).
(4) An officer shall be eligible for promotion as Assistant Agricultural Engineer, if -
(a) he has passed at least the matriculation examination or an equivalent examination;
(b) he has rendered at least 8 years' service on the first January of the year of promotion; and
(c) he has undergone the training and passed the departmental examination, as prescribed by the Government for the purpose.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained hereinbefore in these Rules an officer serving in Class II (Junior Grade) of Assam Agricultural Engineering Service, on his acquiring the academic qualification, as prescribed for direct recruitment as assistant Agricultural Engineer may be promoted as Assistant Agricultural Engineer subject to suitability, in consultation with the Commission as provided in Rule 14 against the next available vacancy in the cadre and such promotion shall be treated as direct recruitment to the cadre of Assistant Agricultural Engineer for the purpose of these Rules.
(6) An officer shall be eligible for promotion as Foreman if he has rendered service, undergone training and passed the departmental examination as mentioned hereinabove under sub-rules (4)(b) and (4)(c).
12. Recruitment in Class I by Promotion. - (1) All vacancies in the cadres of Chief Engineer, Agriculture, Superintending Engineer, Agriculture, and Executive Engineer, Agriculture shall be filled by promotion :
Provided that Government may for good and sufficient reasons fill any of the posts temporarily or on tenure by transfer or deputation from outside the service if they are satisfied that there is no suitable officer in the service available for filing the vacancy.
(2) Subject to suitability as may be decided by the Selection Board and by the appointing Authority as set forth in Rule 13 and also subject to possessing such qualification, training and experience as prescribed herein below, a member shall be eligible for promotion to the corresponding higher cadre as hereinafter provided :
(i) From Superintending Engineer, Agriculture to Chief Engineer Agriculture
(ii) From Executive Engineer/Agriculture to Superintending Engineer, Agriculture;
(iii) From Sub-divisional Agricultural Engineer and Assistant Agricultural Engineer to Executive Engineer, Agriculture.
(3) For promotion from one cadre to another, as provided hereinbefore, a member shall be eligible if he possesses the qualifications, training and experience, as prescribed below :
(a) For promotion to the cadre of Chief Engineer, Agriculture, an officer shall have experience in the administration of agriculture engineering in the post of Superintending Engineer for at least 8 years on the 1st January of the year of promotion.
(b) For promotion to the cadre of Superintending Engineer, Agriculture an officer shall hold-
(i) a first or high second class decree in agricultural engineering or in civil or mechanical engineering, or a first or high second class honours or master's degree in the above fields of engineering; and
(ii) experience in administration of agriculture in any senior post at least for a period of 5 years on the first January of the year of promotion.
(c) For promotion to the cadre of Executive Engineer, Agriculture an officer shall have-
(i) the minimum educational qualification of a degree in agriculture engineering or in civil or mechanical engineering or passed Parts A and B of the Associate Membership Examination of the Institution of Engineers (India); and
(ii) experience as a Sub-divisional Agricultural Engineer/Assistant Agricultural Engineer for a minimum period of 6 years on the first January of the year of promotion.
(d) All officers shall have successfully undergone the training and passed the departmental examination as prescribed for the purposes of promotion.
13. General procedure for promotion. (1) Before the end of each year the Government shall make an assessment Of the likely number of vacancies to be filed up by promotion in the next year in each cadre/class.
(2) The Appointing Authority shall then furnish to the Selection Board the following documents and information with regard to as many officers in order of seniority as 4 times the number of vacancies, as assessed under sub-rule (1):
(a) information about the number of vacancies;
(b) list of officers in order of seniority, eligible for promotion (separate lists of promotion to different cadres shall be furnished) indicating the cadre/class to which the case of promotion is to be considered;
(c) character rolls and personal files of the officers listed; together with all papers showing that any adverse remark recorded in the character roll has been duly communicated to the person concerned and that any representation against such adverse remark has been disposed of other due considerations;
(d) details about representation and about carry forward of vacancies as provided under sub-rule (3) of Rule 11; and
(e) any other documents and information as may be considered necessary by the Appointing Authority or required by the Board.
(3) The Appointing authority shall simultaneously request the Selection Board to recommend within one month a list of officers, found suitable for promotion in order of preference, in respect of promotion to each of the cadres in which recruitment is to be made by promotion.
(4) All selections shall be made on the basis of merit cum seniority except in case of promotion to the cadre of Superintending Engineer, Agriculture, when the selection shall be on the basis of merit only.
(5) The Selection Board, after examination of the documents and information furnished by the Appointing Authority shall recommend to the Appointing Authority a select list of officers about double the probable number of vacancies, in order of preference, found suitable for promotion. In case the Board docs not consider an officer suitable for promotion according to seniority, it shall record the reasons, thereof in writing and forward these reasons to the Appointing Authority together with the list.
(6) The Appointing Authority shall consider the select list prepared by the Board along with the approved list unless it considered any change necessary. If the Appointing Authority considers it necessary to make any change in the list received from the Board, he shall inform the Board of the changes proposed after taking into account the comments, if any, as may, in his opinion, be just and proper.
(7) The inclusion of a candidate's name in a select list shall confer no right to promotion unless the Appointing Authority is satisfied after such enquiry as may be considered necessary that a candidate is suitable for promotion.
(8) The select lists shall remain valid for 12 months from the date of approval by the Commission in case of Assistant Engineer and/Foreman and for 12 months from the date of approval by the Selection Board in other cases.
(9) The promotions shall be in accordance with the lists finally approved by the Appointing Authority.
14. Special procedure for promotion. - (1) On receipt of the select list for the posts of Assistant Agricultural Engineer and Foreman from the Board, the Appointing Authority shall forward it to the Commission together with the information and documents as referred to in sub-rule (2) of Rule 13 with a request to approve the list.
(2) The Commission shall consider the select list recommended by the Selection Board together with the information and documents and such other documents and information as may be required by the Commission and obtained from the Appointing Authority. The Commission shall approve the list with such modifications as it considers just and proper.
(3) The select list as finally approved shall be published by the Appointing Authority in the Assam Gazette within 15 days from the date of approval.