Future promotions for excise sub-inspector posts to be reserved entirely for jawans: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar. Pic/X

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday informed the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly that all future promotions to the post of Sub-Inspector (Group-C) in the State Excise Department will be made entirely - 100 per cent - from the ranks of jawans. He added that any decision regarding the ongoing recruitment process through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination will be taken based on the opinion of the Law and Judiciary Department.

Pawar stated that the government is currently reviewing a proposal to amend the service entry rules to ensure jawans are prioritised for promotion to Sub-Inspector posts. In the future, recruitment to these posts will follow a 50:50 ratio - through nomination and promotion respectively. However, all promotional vacancies will be filled exclusively by personnel from the jawan cadre.

Under the present system, 25 per cent of Sub-Inspector posts are filled through direct promotion, 25 per cent via the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, and 50 per cent through nomination. Of the 25 per cent filled via the examination, 80 per cent of posts are allotted to jawans and 20 per cent to clerks. This results in only 5 per cent of the total Sub-Inspector positions being occupied by clerical staff. Additionally, eligibility for the role requires meeting physical fitness standards. Going forward, no clerical staff will be promoted to Sub-Inspector posts.

The role of Sub-Inspectors in the Excise Department includes responsibilities such as criminal investigations, conducting raids, vehicle inspections, and curbing illegal liquor transportation. Considering the physically demanding nature of these tasks, the government has determined that only physically fit personnel - specifically from the jawan cadre - should be promoted to these posts.

Pawar further added that legal guidance will be sought on whether the ongoing recruitment process can be discontinued. If halting the process is not legally viable, it will be completed, after which 100 per cent of promotional opportunities will be reserved for jawans.

213 sanitation workers in Pandharpur to Get 600 sq ft homes, says Ajit Pawar

A total of 213 sanitation workers in Pandharpur are set to receive 600 sq ft homes as part of the revised Pandharpur pilgrimage site development plan, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar informed the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

The revised plan includes the construction of 13 residential buildings comprising 213 housing units. Of these, 12 buildings will be four-storeyed while one will be five-storeyed. Additionally, 24 commercial shops will be built on the ground floors of seven roadside buildings, Pawar said, responding to a calling attention motion raised by MLA Hemant Rasane.

The Deputy CM stated that suggestions from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other public representatives were incorporated into the plan. A budget of Rs 55.61 crore has been proposed for the initiative, which aims to provide long-awaited housing relief to the city's sanitation workers.