The Odisha Municipal Community Development Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules,2017,

 
EXTRAORDINARY 

   PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY 

No.  998,   CUTTACK,     FRIDAY,     MAY    26,     2017/ JAISTHA    5,    1939 

 

HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT  

NOTIFICATION 

The 25th May, 2017 

S.R.O. No.241/2017— In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 22 of the 

Odisha Municipal Services Act, 2016 (Odisha Act 7 of 2016) and in supersession of the 

rules or regulations or Orders or Instructions, except as respects things done or omitted to 

be done before such supersession, the State Government do hereby make the following 

rules regulating the method of recruitment and conditions of service of the persons 

appointed to the Odisha Municipal Community Development Services, namely:— 

CHAPTER-I 

PRELIMINARY 

 
  1. Short title and Commencement.— (1) These rules may be called the Odisha 

Municipal Community Development Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of 

Service) Rules,2017,  

        (2) They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the             

Odisha Gazette. 

2. Definitions.— (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise require,— 
 

(a) ”Act” means the Odisha  Municipal   Services Act, 2016; 

(b) ”Commissioner” means Commissioner of a Municipal Corporation; 

(c) ”Committee” means the Departmental Promotion Committee constituted 

under rule 12; 

(d) ”Deputy Commissioner” means Deputy Commissioner of a Municipal 

Corporation; 

(e) ”District” means a revenue District; 

(f) ”Executive Officer” means Executive Officer of a Municipality or a Notified 

Area Council; 



2 

 

(g)  “Ex-servicemen” means persons as defined in the Odisha Ex-servicemen 

(Recruitment to State Civil Services and Posts) Rules, 1985; 

(h)  “Government” means the Government of Odisha; 

(i)  “Joint Commissioner” means Joint Commissioner of a Municipal Corporation; 

(j)  “OPSC” means  Odisha Public Service Commission; 

(k)  “OSSC” means  Odisha  Staff Selection Commission; 

(l) “Persons with Disabilities” means persons who have been granted with 

disability certificates by Competent Authority as per the provisions of the 

Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Right, and full 

Participation) Odisha Rules, 2003; 

(m)  “Schedule” means Schedule appended to these rules; 

(n)  “Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes” shall have reference to the 

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes specified in the Constitution 

(Scheduled Castes) Order,1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) 

Order, 1950, as the case may be, made under Articles 341 and 342 of the 

Constitution of India, respectively; 

(o)  “SEBC” means the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes of citizens 

defined as backward Classes and referred to in clause (a) of Section 2 of 

the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993; 

(p) “Section” means section of the Odisha  Municipal  Services Act, 2016; 

(q) “Selection” means selection in accordance with the provisions of these rules; 

(r)  “Service” means the Odisha Municipal Community Development Service; 

(s)  “Sportsmen” means persons who have been issued with identity card as 

sportsmen by the Director, Sports; and 

 (t) “Year” means the Calendar Year. 

 (2)  All other words and expressions used in these rules but not defined specifically 

shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the same meaning as respectively 

assigned to them in the Act, and Odisha Service Code. 

3. Constitution of Cadre and Services.—The Service shall consist of the following 

grades, namely:— 

(i)  City Community Development Officer; 

(ii) Community Development Officer;   

(iii)  Senior Community Organiser; and 

(iv)  Community  Organiser. 



3 

 

CHAPTER-II 

METHODS OF RECRUITMENT 

 
4. Cadre Strength and Methods of recruitment.— (1) The cadre strength of the 

Service for all the Urban Local Bodies shall be as decided by the Government from time to 

time.  

(2) The qualifications and method of selection for different posts and experience 

under respective grade in the service shall be as provided in the Schedule. 

(3) Subject to other provisions made in these rules,  

(a) the post of City Community Development Officer,  shall be filled up byway of 

promotion from among the Community Development Officers; 

(b) the post of Community Development Officer shall be filled up byway of 

promotion from among the Senior Community Organisers; and 

(c) the post of Senior Community Organiser shall be filled up byway of 

promotion from among the Community Organisers. 

(4) The post of Community Organiser shall be filled up  byway of direct recruitment 

through the OSSC. 

5.  Reservations.— Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules reservation 

of vacancies or posts, as the case may be, for candidates belonging to,--- 

(a) Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes shall be made in accordance with 

the provisions of the Odisha Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and 

Services (for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Act, 1975 and the 

rules made thereunder; and  

(b) SEBC, Women, Sportsmen, Ex-servicemen and Persons with Disabilities 

shall be made in accordance with the provisions made under such Act, 

rules, orders or instructions issued in this behalf by the Government from 

time to time. 

  6. Grouping of Posts.—The posts in the Service, shall be classified as different 

groups on the basis of scales of pay, similar to the classification of posts made by the 

General Administration Department in the State Government offices from time to time. 

  7. Appointing Authority and Jurisdiction of Municipal Services.— (1) The 

Director, Municipal Administration in the Housing & Urban Development Department shall 

be the Appointing Authority for all categories of posts  in the Service. 

  (2) The appointment order shall be issued after obtaining orders of Government in 

all cases. 



4 

 

(3) The service shall be of a State Cadre and the Officers and employees 

appointed to the service shall be transferred as per the transfer policy of the Government 

or deputed to all Urban Local Bodies across the State. 

8. Status of Personnel and Salary.— (1) The Officers and employees recruited to 

the Service shall be appointed and  controlled by the Director, Municipal Administration 

and they shall not be, in any case, the employees of the State Government. They shall be 

Officers and employees of the Urban Local Body.  

 (2) The Urban Local Body concerned shall be liable to meet the salaries, 

allowances and  other financial benefits of the personnel posted in the Urban Local 

Bodies. 

9. Eligibility Criteria for Direct Recruitment.—In order to be eligible for direct 

recruitment to the posts under the Service, a candidate shall have to satisfy the general 

conditions laid down in the Odisha Municipal Services (General) Rules, 2016 as applicable 

with the following further conditions, namely:— 

(a) A candidate must be of good mental condition and bodily health and free 

from any physical defect likely to interfere with the discharge of his duties in 

the service: 

            Provided that this clause, except good mental condition shall not be 

applicable to the Persons with Disability. 

(b) Minimum Educational Qualifications for different posts under the Service 

shall be as provided in the Schedule. 

10. Selection by the OSSC.— (1) The competitive examination for direct 

recruitment to the posts of  Community Organiser shall be conducted by the OSSC. 

(2) Ordinarily in the month of January of each year the Director Municipal 

Administration shall communicate the total number of vacancies, already existing and the 

anticipated vacancies in that year to the OSSC indicating  therein the number of posts 

required to be filled up and the posts to be reserved for candidates belonging to different 

reserved categories and furnish the necessary details in the format prescribed for the 

purpose. 

 (3) The OSSC shall, on receipt of the vacancies to be filled up by direct recruitment 

shall take all necessary steps for the recruitment of suitable candidates and adopt its own 

procedures. 

(4) The syllabus, pattern and scheme of examination shall be as decided by the 

OSSC in consultation with the Department.  



5 

 

(5) The OSSC shall prepare a composite merit list taking into account all categories 

along with separate merit list category wise. 

11. Select List in case of Direct Recruitment.— (1) The merit lists received from 

the  OSSC shall be placed before the Government for approval, and on such approval, it 

shall form the select list. 

(2) Appointment to different grades in the service shall be made in the order in 

which the names as they appear in the select list. 

(3) Every candidate included in the select list shall be examined by a Medical Board 

and any candidate who fails to qualify the Medical Board shall not be eligible for 

appointment. 

 (4) The select list shall ordinarily remain in force for one year from the date of its 

approval by the Government under sub-rule (1) or until another select list is prepared, 

whichever is earlier. 

CHAPTER-III 

PROMOTION 

12. Constitution of Departmental Promotion Committee.— (1) There shall be 

constituted two different Committees for considering promotion of the officers and 

employees to different grades in the service, namely:— 

(a)  The Committee for promotion to the posts of City Community Development 

Officer and Community Development Officer;— 

(i) Secretary of the HUD Department : Chairman 

(ii) Director, Municipal Administration : Member 

(iii) Representative of the ST and SC 
Development Department, of the rank of 
Under  Secretary and above 

: Member 

(iv) Joint Secretary/Deputy Secretary of the 
HUD Department  dealing with the subject 

: Member 

(v) Deputy Director, Municipal Administration/ 
Deputy Commissioner 

: Member-Convener 

         (b) The Committee for promotion to the posts of Senior Community Organizer;— 

(i) Director, Municipal Administration : Chairman 

(ii) Representative of the ST and SC 
Development Department, of the rank of 
Under  Secretary and above 

: Member 

(iii) Joint Secretary/Deputy Secretary of the 
HUD Department  dealing with the subject 

: Member 

(iv) Deputy Director, Municipal Administration/ 
Deputy Commissioner 

: Member-Convener 



6 

 

 (2) The recommendation of the Committee shall be valid and can be acted upon 

notwithstanding the absence of any one of its members other than the Chairman: 

 Provided that the member so absenting was duly invited to attend the meeting of 

the Committee and the majority of members of the Committee attended the meeting. 

13. Procedure for Selection by the Departmental Promotion Committee.—(1) 

The Committee shall meet at least once  in a year preferably in the month of January to 

prepare a list of officers as are held by them suitable  for promotion to the next higher 

grade. 

(2) The Committee while considering the cases of suitable officers and employees 

and preparation of the list  shall follow the provisions of,— 

(a) The Odisha Civil Services (Zone of Consideration for Promotion) Rules, 

1988. 

(b) The Odisha Civil Services (Criteria for Promotion) Rules, 1992 

(c) The Odisha Civil Services (Criteria for Selection for Appointment including 

Promotion) Rules, 2003. 

(d) The Odisha Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (for Scheduled 

Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Act, 1975 and the rules made thereunder, 

wherever applicable. 

14. Consultation with the Commission.— (1) The recommendations of the 

committee in respect of Group – A and Group-B Officers shall be referred to the OPSC for 

concurrence along with a list of all eligible candidates, including those who has not been 

recommended together with the service particulars relating to their academic qualification, 

field  experience, if any.  

(2) The OPSC shall consider the list along with the service particulars received 

under sub-rule (1) and shall furnish its recommendations.  

15. Select List in case of Promotion.— (1)  The recommendation of the OPSC in 

respect of reference made to it under sub-rule (2)  of rule 14 shall, after being approved by 

the Government form the select list. 

(2) The list referred to under sub-rule (1) shall ordinarily be in force for a period of 

one year  from the date of its approval by the Government or until another select list is 

prepared afresh  whichever is earlier. 

(3) Appointment on promotion to different grades in the service shall be made in the 

order in which the names of the officers or employees appear in the select list. 

                 

 



7 

 

CHAPTER-IV 

OTHER CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 

 16. Probation.—The period of probation as provided under section 9 of the Act 

shall not include,— 

(a) extraordinary leave; 

(b) period of unauthorized absence; or 

(c) any other period held to be not being on actual duty. 

17. Inter se-Seniority.—The inter se-seniority of the officers and employees 

promoted to any grade in the service after commencement of these rules in a particular 

year shall be in the order in which their names appear in the select list prepared under rule 

15 and the inter se-seniority of the direct recruit shall be fixed as per the provisions of the 

proviso to Section 10  of the Odisha Municipal Services Act, 2016 read with rule 11. 

18. Other Service Conditions.—The other service conditions of the officers 

recruited to the Service not covered in the provisions of the Act and these rules shall be 

same as in the existing respective State Government Rules.  
 

CHAPTER-V 

MISCELLANEOUS 

 

19. Relaxation—When the Government are of the opinion that it is considered 

necessary or expedient so to do, in public interest, it may, by order for reasons to be 

recorded in writing, relax  any of the provisions of these rules, in respect of any class or 

category of employees, or in respect of any particular employee. 

20. Interpretation— If any question arises relating to the interpretation of these 

rules, it shall be referred to Government whose decision thereon shall be final. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



8 

 

 

SCHEDULE  

[See rule 4 (2) and 9(b)] 

QUALIFICATIONS, METHOD OF SELECTION AND EXPERIENCE 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    

                                  

[No. 11792–HUD-13-LEGIS-67-POLICY-15-16/2017/HUD.] 

By Order of the Governor 

 

G. MATHI VATHANAN 

Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Printed and published by the Director, Printing, Stationery and Publication, Odisha, Cuttack-10 

 Ex. Gaz. 326-173+500 

Sl. 

No. 
NAME OF POST 

METHOD OF 

SELECTION 

QUALIFICATION/ 

EXPERIENCE/ SOURCE  

1 City Community 

Development Officer 
Promotion 

Must have put at least 5 years of 

service as Community 

Development Officer. 

    2 
Community Development 

Officer 
Promotion 

Must have put at least 5 years of 

service as Senior Community 

Organiser. 

   3 Senior Community 

Organiser 
Promotion 

Must have put at least 10 years of 

service as Community Organizer. 

4 Community Organizer  
Direct 

Recruitment 

Must be a Graduate (Bachelor 

degree) / Post  Graduate (Master 

Degree), in Sociology/ Social 

Work/ Home Science/  

Community Development,  from a 

Govt. recognised  university. She/ 

He must have basic  computer 

knowledge.