PANAJI: State govt has decided to phase out the posts of junior stenographer and stenographer grade II across govt departments, corporations, autonomous bodies and public sector undertakings by abolishing them as they fall vacant. The directive exempts the judiciary and court systems.The personnel department said the decision followed a reassessment of the need for these posts in view of the widespread use of computers and the declining use of shorthand by officers.“In today’s computer era, where typing is being done on computers, and the skill of shorthand is hardly being put to use by officers, govt re-assessed the requirement of junior stenographer grade-I posts in various govt departments, corporations, autonomous bodies and public sector undertakings,” said under secretary Durga Kinlekar in an office memorandum.Under the new policy, posts falling vacant due to superannuation, promotion, resignation, death, termination, dismissal or any other reason will be automatically abolished. The departments must issue an order declaring the post abolished within 60 days of the vacancy arising, followed by another order notifying the corresponding reduction in their sanctioned staff strength.The decision will not affect employees currently serving in these cadres, who will continue in their positions until superannuation or promotion, in accordance with the applicable hierarchy and recruitment rules.Higher posts, including senior stenographer and stenographer grade I, will also continue to remain available for the career progression of existing employees. However, these posts will be automatically abolished once no eligible personnel remain in the respective departments.The memorandum further clarified that outsourced personnel engaged against junior stenographer posts may continue to be employed based on the requirements of individual departments.
