It’s time up for officers who are inefficient or have a bad reputation. Narendra Modi-led NDA government has sent out a stern message that senior government officials who would be found inefficient during review would have to face early retirement.The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued a four-page guideline to all ministries, stating services of those government officials "which are no longer useful to the general administration" or whose "integrity and reputation" is doubtful, must be compulsorily retired from service.
The rarely enforced existing rule FR 56 (J) reads that the performance of Group A and B officials who have completed 50 years and junior officials who have completed 55 years of service must be reviewed and a decision taken whether to compulsorily retire them before turning 60.
Recently, Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha chaired a meeting with senior officers of different ministries asking for strict screening of officers under the existing rule.
DoPT stated that integrity of an employee, action or decisions taken by the employee which do not appear to be above board, complaints received against him or suspicious property transactions, for which sufficient evidence may not be there to initiate departmental proceedings should be the factors considered to decide on prematurely retiring an officer.
In 2002, the Apex Court ruled that government has absolute right to compulsorily retire an official who obstructs the efficiency in public services.
DoPT cited another 2001 judgement of the
All reviews must be done six months before the official turns 50 or 55 as the case may be.
(Image: PIB)