Durga effect: Govt may change suspension rules
11 Aug 2013 5:28 AM IST
Amidst the row over the suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, the Centre is contemplating amending the All India Service rules to ensure that an IAS officer is not unduly harassed. The department of personnel and training (DoPT), which is the nodal body for administrative matters related to Indian Administrative Service (IAS), may revisit rules that outline procedure for disciplinary action against an officer of the service.
‘We are considering making changes in the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, to ensure that an officer of such services is not suspended due to political vendetta or any other vested interest. The move is aimed at ensuring hassle-free working of officers,’ said a DoPT official. The official said a final decision, however, has not been taken on this matter.
If changes in rules are made applicable, they will also have bearing on two other All India Services - Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) besides IAS. ‘The Centre will seek opinions from concerned cadre controlling authorities like ministry of home affairs (for IPS) and ministry of environment and forests (for IFoS) before going ahead with change in rules. The matter is under discussion within DoPT,’ said the official.
Maharashtra already has an act in place to regulate transfers and postings of civil servants in order to curb the practice of premature transfers and provide security of tenure to officials.
The over 4,700-member IAS officers’ association had also suggested changes in rules including prior sanction of the Centre before any officer of the service is suspended by a state government among others. ‘Revisit all rules regarding All India Services, in particular All India Services (Disciplinary and Appeals Rules, 1969, wherein a provision for seeking prior approval of the central government should be made before suspending any IAS officer working under control of state governments,’ said the association’s secretary Sanjay R Bhoos Reddy.
Reddy had recommended provision for serving of a mandatory show cause notice to an officer seeking his or her explanation within a specified time period before suspension. ‘Only after perusal of that particular IAS officer’s reply to the show cause notice, suspension should be decided,’ suggested Bhoos Reddy.
The move of changing the All India Service rules, comes in the backdrop of suspension of Nagpal, who had taken on sand mining mafia active in Gautam Budh Nagar district of the state. The IAS officer was suspended for ordering demolition of a wall of an under-construction mosque without following due process.
‘We are considering making changes in the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, to ensure that an officer of such services is not suspended due to political vendetta or any other vested interest. The move is aimed at ensuring hassle-free working of officers,’ said a DoPT official. The official said a final decision, however, has not been taken on this matter.
If changes in rules are made applicable, they will also have bearing on two other All India Services - Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) besides IAS. ‘The Centre will seek opinions from concerned cadre controlling authorities like ministry of home affairs (for IPS) and ministry of environment and forests (for IFoS) before going ahead with change in rules. The matter is under discussion within DoPT,’ said the official.
Maharashtra already has an act in place to regulate transfers and postings of civil servants in order to curb the practice of premature transfers and provide security of tenure to officials.
The over 4,700-member IAS officers’ association had also suggested changes in rules including prior sanction of the Centre before any officer of the service is suspended by a state government among others. ‘Revisit all rules regarding All India Services, in particular All India Services (Disciplinary and Appeals Rules, 1969, wherein a provision for seeking prior approval of the central government should be made before suspending any IAS officer working under control of state governments,’ said the association’s secretary Sanjay R Bhoos Reddy.
Reddy had recommended provision for serving of a mandatory show cause notice to an officer seeking his or her explanation within a specified time period before suspension. ‘Only after perusal of that particular IAS officer’s reply to the show cause notice, suspension should be decided,’ suggested Bhoos Reddy.
The move of changing the All India Service rules, comes in the backdrop of suspension of Nagpal, who had taken on sand mining mafia active in Gautam Budh Nagar district of the state. The IAS officer was suspended for ordering demolition of a wall of an under-construction mosque without following due process.
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