New Delhi: The refusal of IAS officers to come on central deputation will debar them from foreign postings, the Centre has said. The move comes after it was noticed that many state governments and cadre controlling authorities were withdrawing the names of proposed IAS officers when their cases were being processed at the Centre.
"As you might be aware, a laborious exercise precedes the appointment of an officer to a post under the central government. However, very often, the state governments withdraw the names of officers from offer subsequently.
"This results in considerable delay in the placement of officers at the Centre, which is not in public interest. Consequently, the Government of India has been following a policy of debarring an officer for five years, if, once appointed by the government under the Central Staffing Scheme, he does not join the post either on account of personal disinclination, or the refusal of the Cadre to relieve him," the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said in a letter to state governments.
It is also to be highlighted that it is not only the failure to take up the appointment, but also withdrawal of the name of an officer after a panel has been recommended by the Civil Services Board, that results in debarment for five years, the letter said.
An officer who is debarred from being taken on deputation to a post under the Central Staffing Scheme is also to be debarred from being given cadre clearance for foreign assignments or consultancies abroad during the period of debarment, it said.
"Therefore, you are earnestly requested to ensure that an officer, once placed on the offer list, continues to be available for consideration throughout the year and his name is not withdrawn during this period, except under exceptional circumstances," the DoPT said in the letter to all Chief Secretaries of states and union territories.
In a separate letter, the DoPT has also asked all cadre controlling authorities, like Ministry of Environment and Forests for officers of Indian Forest Service, to ensure that they do not withdraw the names of the officers after their names have been proposed for the central deputation.
Citing shortage of over 300 IAS officers, the DoPT has asked all states to ensure that requisite number of the bureaucrats who could be considered for central deputation. The total authorized strength of IAS officers is 6,217. Of these, 4,455 officers are working under the central and various state governments. According to the letter, the central deputation reserve, on the basis of the total number of serving officers, is 952.
There are 643 IAS officers presently working on central deputation, leaving a gap of 309 bureaucrats. "An officer being nominated should he willing to serve anywhere in India; Preference of an officer for a particular station(s) on account of personal reasons, if any, may be explicitly indicated.
"The Officers have also been given an option to choose any three departments or ministries where they would like to work under the Central Staffing Scheme. However, actual appointments will be subject to availability of posts and the suitability of officers for the posts," it said.
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