GAD writes to Admn Secys, others; gives one week time
Rotation
imperative to ensure probity among officers
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 18: Union Ministry of Home Affairs has sought from the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir the details of the employees occupying sensitive posts beyond three years and acting swiftly the General Administration Department (GAD) has sent communication to all the Administrative Secretaries asking for compliance within one week positively as delay in this regard will be viewed seriously by the Ministry.
The Ministry of Home Affairs vide its Communication No.14016/21/2021-UT dated July 5, 2023 has drawn the attention of the Chief Secretary of Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir towards Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Letter C-11020/1/2015-Vig dated 14/09/2015 regarding the implementation of rotational Transfer Policy in the departments and attached/subordinate offices in the respective segments and also identification of sensitive posts and the number of persons occupying such posts beyond three years.
Acting swiftly, the General Administration Department has sent a communication to all the Administrative Secretaries, Director Anti-Corruption Bureau, Divisional Commissioners, all Heads of the Departments, Managing Directors of Public Sector Undertakings and all Deputy Commissioners asking them to submit complete details of all employees posted, deputed and attached, who are occupying sensitive posts beyond three years.
“The details shall be furnished in the devised format within a week’s time positively so that the same is forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, for further action in the matter”, read the communication of the General Administration Department.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has mentioned in the communication that delay in such matters is viewed seriously by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Department of Personnel and Training.
It is pertinent to mention here that in a meeting taken by the Cabinet Secretary on 10.08.2015 with senior officers of different Ministries on mechanism to ensure probity among Government servants, it was emphasized that rotation needs to be carried out in respect of sensitive posts and non-sensitive posts and review and screening of officers under Fundamental Rule 56(J) within the Ministries. The DoPT shall monitor implementation and obtain compliance from all Ministries in this regard.
Accordingly, all Ministries/ Departments were requested to look into the matter and carry out rotation in respect of sensitive and non-sensitive posts.
Sources in the J&K administration told EXCELSIOR that no doubt there may be certain cases where continuation of some officers/ officials on particular posts beyond three years becomes imperative due to compelling circumstances/ technical grounds but this practice cannot be allowed to persist as the same amounts to giving sufficient chances for the development of vested interests of the officials concerned”.
“Moreover, allowing certain officials to handle the particular task for prolonged period leads to dependence of the department on such employees and make them indispensable, which further leads to chances of corrupt practices”, they further said while disclosing that Transfer Policy of J&K Government has elaborated on this aspect.
The General Principles of the Transfer Policy, which was issued several years back, read: “Postings shall be made on a rotational basis to sensitive and non-sensitive posts. Every department shall identify sensitive and non-sensitive posts and evolve a roaster for posting of officers”.
About tenure of postings, the Transfer Policy states: “The minimum tenure for a Government employee on a post shall be two years and a maximum of three years”. In the policy, sufficient thrust has been laid on linking performance of the employees with the transfers. However, Government can order transfer of employee even before the completion of minimum tenure if it is not in public interest or in the interest of the administration to allow the employee to continue on a post for a full term.
It is worthwhile to mention here that Chief Secretary has from time to time issued instructions to all the departments to ensure rotation of staff from sensitive to non-sensitive and vice-versa and even asked the Administrative Secretaries to ensure strict compliance of the same.
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