It is time for Indian bureaucrats to remember school. Or rather, that cold and terrible sweat before exam results.
The performance of those who have either completed 30 years in service
or reach 50 years of age, whichever comes earlier, will be reviewed,
according to a recent Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) order.
Those who get negative reviews will be given a three-month notice to
retire.
The DoPT, headed by PM Narendra Modi, has decided to let go of
non-performing officers and those with suspect integrity by giving them
compulsory premature retirement.
Whenever the services of a public servant are no longer useful to the
general administration, the officer can be compulsorily retired for the
sake of public interest, said the DoPT circular. For better
administration, it is necessary to chop off the dead wood.
The relationship of the NDA government with its employees has seen ups
and downs. This is not the first time that the government has sighted
rules to ensure transparency. Earlier, the government had amended the
All India Service (conduct) Rules, 1968, to include a 19-point guideline
for bureaucrats which mandates that they maintain 'political
neutrality' and 'take decisions solely in public interest', among other
clauses.
Detailed instructions have been issued for reviewing the quarterly
performance of officers. The DoPT cited various Supreme Court
observations for assessment of such cases. On integrity, the circular
quoted the SC: "The officer would live by reputation built around him.
In an appropriate case, there may not be sufficient evidence to take
punitive disciplinary action of removal from service. But his conduct
and reputation is such that his continuance would be a menace to public
service and injurious to public interest."
Sighting FR 56(j), the rule pertaining to compulsory retirement, the
order has asked every department to set up a two-member review committee
which will screen officers and employees based on the internal feedback
and yearly appraisal reports.
For Group A officers, secretaries of departments would head review
committees. The Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of departments will mark
cases where the record reflected adversely on the integrity of the
gazetted officer. The CVOs are an extension of the Central Vigilance
Commission (CVC ). The Government of India has about 45 laky employees.
Service record
For reviews, the entire service record will be considered, DoPT said. An
officer could also be appraised on the basis of how she dealt with
files or by delving into other documents and reports prepared and
submitted by her. The instructions from Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar
Sinha also underlined the need for rotating officers working in
sensitive and nonsensitive posts.
Our government has always believed in transparency. The PM has assured
minimum government and maximum governance. This circular is a step in
that direction, minister for department of personnel and training
Jitendra Singh said. "It is a welcome step, this will help cleanse the
system and ensure that those who have been misusing the system. It is
necessary for the government to ensure periodic reviews," said BJP MP
and former home secretary RK Singh.
"It is a welcome step by the government. Now the deserving and
hard-working will get a chance to get ahead rather than those serving
political masters. It will give us an incentive to perform and even go
against politicians if the latter want to pressurise us to do something
wrong," said a senior Haryana IAS officer posted in Rohtak, requesting
anonymity.
But the review needs to be done regularly, say after every ten years. At
50 years, if some officer is let go for wrong conduct, it is hardly a
punishment as he or she has had the best of time.
Source :http://m.businesstoday.com