NEW DELHI: Delhi government will soon start identifying and weeding out “non-performing and tainted” government servants from various departments and retire them.
Sources privy to the development said lieutenant governor VK Saxena had directed the chief secretary to re-start the exercise of identifying officials and staff from various cadres whose integrity was in question or who were found to be ineffective in discharging their duties.
The LG’s directions came days after he showed his zero tolerance towards corruption and took action against officials for alleged irregularities and corruption.
According to an official, a five-member review committee, headed by the head of the department concerned and having secretaries or additional secretaries of services, vigilance and administrative reforms, would individually take up the recommendations of each department and reach a final decision.
The directions to carry out periodical review of all government servants from the Centre’s Department of Personnel and Training and take requisite action under FR 56(j), Rule-48 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 to compulsorily retire officers who had become “dead wood” or “dark sheep” are not new. Delhi government had earlier taken action against over 100 such officials, including many from the municipal corporations.
Sources, however, said Saxena had specifically asked to revive the periodical review to overall strengthen the functioning of the government. The departments had been asked to review the working of each official six months before they attained the age of 50 (males) and 55 (females) or had completed 30 years in service.
“But there are a few caveats this time. While the committee will look at the entire service record of the official, if his/her performance has been found satisfactory in the last five years or during the highest post held during that period, the rule of compulsory retirement on the basis of ineffectiveness will not be applicable,” said an official.
Sources said the LG had asked officials to adopt a multi-pronged strategy to identify “black sheep” and “dead wood”, including consideration of annual confidential reports, existing vigilance cases and lists of complaints against officials as well as the state of their health while compiling the list of names.
The departments would have to submit the action taken report to the services department by the 15th of every month, sources said.
A senior Delhi government official, however, said that a large number of posts were currently vacant in all departments and the overall strength of officials was just 70-75% of the sanctioned posts. “Compulsorily retiring officials will further bring down this number. Some may even move the services tribunal or courts, which will put more pressure on the remaining officials and additional work of handing court cases,” added the official.
