In a move aimed at allowing bureaucrats to take decisions without any fear of political backlash, IAS officers working under the Central government cannot be suspended without the nod of the Prime Min
In a move aimed at allowing bureaucrats to take decisions without any fear of political backlash, IAS officers working under the Central government cannot be suspended without the nod of the Prime Minister.
This relief has been provided in the revised rules to all-India services officers — IAS, IPS and IFoS — working in various states in the revised rules under which the Centre needs to be informed within 48 hours, if any officer is suspended by them followed by a detailed report within a fortnight.
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-month-period.
“IAS officers working under the Central government shall only be suspended on the recommendations of the central review committee as amended with the approval of the minister-in-charge, department of personnel and training,” the new rules said.
The Prime Minister is in charge of the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions that has DoPT as one of the departments.
The three-member central review committee will be headed by a secretary in the department of personnel and training and will have an establishment officer and another secretary of the ministry concerned, as its members.
The move assumes significance as officers like Mr Ashok Khemka, Ms Durga Sakthi Nagpal and Kuldip Narayan, among others, have allegedly been victims of arbitrary suspension and transfer.
