New Delhi: The Central government has issued a directive to all ministries to conduct regular performance reviews of their employees and retire those who are non-performers, emphasizing that this measure is "in public interest." The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has instructed ministries to ensure that public sector undertakings (PSUs), banks, autonomous institutions, and statutory bodies under their control undertake these reviews periodically.

In Public Interest
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The DoPT has highlighted that previous instructions for periodic reviews to determine whether government employees should remain in service or be retired prematurely have not been consistently followed. The order, sent to secretaries of all central government departments, stresses the need for adherence to these guidelines and timely reporting to the Department of Personnel and Training.

The guidelines, based on provisions in Fundamental Rules (FR)-56 (J)/(I) and Rule 48 of Central Civil Services (CCS) (Pension) Rules, now revised as Rule 42 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, outline the policy for periodic review and premature retirement of government servants to ensure efficiency and speed in government operations.

The DoPT's order, dated June 27, urges ministries and departments to identify employees due for review and submit their cases to the designated review committee without delay. The order also emphasizes adherence to the timeline established in a 2020 DoPT order for reviewing the performance of government servants and employees of PSUs, banks, and other autonomous institutions.

The objective of these CCS rules is to create a responsible and efficient administrative machinery, enhancing efficiency, economy, and speed in government functions. Ministries and departments are required to submit a monthly report to the DoPT starting from July 2024, detailing the review process and outcomes.

The DoPT reiterated that employees with questionable integrity or those found ineffective should not continue in government service, reinforcing the need for strict compliance with the review process to maintain a high standard of public administration.

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