New Delhi: In a move aimed at allowing bureaucrats to take decisions without any fear of political backlash, the government has revised the service rules that govern officers of the All India Services.
In a major development, IAS officers working under central government can no longer be suspended without the approval of the Prime Minister, the new rules stipulate.
The relief is not limited to IAS officers alone, but extends to the IPS and Forest Service as well. The new rules also mandate that suspension of officials working in various states will also require the states to inform the Centre within 48 hours. This will have to be followed by a detailed report within a fortnight.
The move assumes significance as officers like Ashok Khemka, Durga Sakthi Nagpal and Kuldip Narayan, among others, have allegedly been victims of arbitrary suspension and transfer.
The rules also cut short to two months from three months the period of suspension of an officer by the Centre and states. The order of suspension, if it is extended, will now be valid for four months as against existing six months period.
"IAS officers working under central government shall only be suspended on the recommendations of the central review committee as amended with the approval of Minister-in-charge, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)," the new rules said.
The Prime Minister is in charge of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions which has DoPT as one of the departments.
The three-member central review committee will be headed by Secretary in DoPT and will have Establishment Officer and another Secretary of ministry concerned, as its members.
"The government's aim is to eradicate corruption from bureaucracy and we also wish to provide officer-friendly environment so that none of the officers is intimidated by any of the government rules and give their performance.
"The new rules will also encourage honest officers and ensure justice for all," Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh told PTI
According to the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Amendment Rules, 2015, as soon as a member of the service is placed under suspension or is deemed to have been placed under suspension, the information in this regard shall be communicated to the Government of India expeditiously and within a period of 48 hours.
A copy of the suspension order along with the reasons or grounds of suspension shall be communicated to the cadre controlling authority (DoPT for IAS, Home Ministry for IPS and Environment Ministry for IFoS) in the central government "not later than forty eight hours", it further said.
There was no such time-limit in the existing rules.
An order of suspension, which has not been extended shall be valid for a period not exceeding sixty days and an order of suspension which has been extended shall remain valid for a further period not exceeding 120 days, at a time, unless revoked earlier, the new rules said.
(With PTI inputs)
