Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said his state government’s plan to review government employees’ performance must not be the cause of any worry about the fate of their service.

The employees’ organisations, both backed by the opposition Left parties and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have slammed the decision and demanded the withdrawal of the circular.

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“State government’s plan on a periodical review of the performance of the government employees should not because of any concern about the fate of their service,” Deb said here late on Tuesday.

He said: “The state government never said that action would be taken after the periodical review or that they would be suspended or dismissed from service.

“Periodical review of the performance of the employees is a part of governmental administrative process.”

The BJP-led alliance government in Tripura had issued the circular saying there is a need for the periodical review to ascertain whether the government servant should be retained or retired in public interest.

“Performance of the government employees should be reviewed six months before they attain the age of 50 or 55 years or on completion of 30 years of qualifying service,” the circular said asking all departmental heads to follow instructions and take necessary action.

The Left-supported employees organisations — Tripura Government Employees Association (TGEA) and Tripura Employees Coordination Committee (TECC) — criticised the move.

“Though the periodical review of performance of government employees was included in the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission, no state has enforced it. This would insult the government employees,” TGEA General Secretary Mridul Saha said.

He said that a section of the senior officers might use it vindictively.

The BJP-backed Tripura Government Employees Federation Secretary General Samar Roy also strongly criticised the circular and demanded its withdrawal.

“If any employee becomes physically unfit, authority can take steps as per normal procedure but the government cannot issue such enmasse circular against all employees,” Roy told IANS.

Currently Tripura government has 158,220 employees including 113,852 regular staff.