The Centre believes
that a officer, though good, may not be efficient all the time, thereby forcing
the government to adopt rules of compulsory retirement. In a DoPT-convened
meeting of state principal secretaries in-charge of general administration, the
Centre wants a freewheeling discussion on compulsory retirement and the rules
therein. In the agenda paper circulated to all state chief secretaries, the
DoPT says, “the order of compulsory retirement shall not be passed as a short
cut to avoid departmental enquiry.” There are instances where officers facing
departmental inquiries escape stringent punishment by managing voluntary
retirement. “If the officer was given a promotion despite adverse entries made
in the confidential record, that is a fact in favour of the officer,” the paper
adds. It goes on to state, “There may be some officers who may possess a better
initiative and higher standard of efficiency and if given a chance, the work of
the government might show marked improvement. The rule merely seeks to strike a
just balance between maintenance of efficacy in the diverse activities of State
administration and cessation of the completed career of an officer whose
integrity is doubtful and his services are no longer useful to the
administration and public.” The rule being talked about here is 16(3) of the
All India Services (Death-cum Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, under which
service records of All India Services officers are maintained. The government
has, however, made it clear that the order of premature retirement can be
passed only after taking into account the entire service record of the officer.
What action the DoPT has formulated, will be known soon. Wait and watch. g
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