New Rules to Protect the Bureaucrats from Political Backlash

What could be a better way to greet the country, “A Happy 2016” than to ensure it , a corruption-free and decisive administrative environment. The government of India has made the long awaited amendments in the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969. The new rules aim to shield the bureaucrats from arbitrary political suspensions and transfers, thus emboldening their honest efforts.

The revised rules say “IAS officers working under the central government shall be suspended only on the recommendations of the central review committee as amended with the approval of Minister-in-charge, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).” The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, with DoPT as one of the departments, is headed by the Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi. Hence, no IAS officer can be suspended without the nod of the Prime Minister himself.
Moreover, as per the new rules, the states are required to inform the Centre within 48 hours and submit a detailed report within a fortnight, if any all-India services officer (IAS, IPS and IFoS) working in various states is suspended.
The period of suspension by the Centre and states has also been curtailed down to two months from three months. And, in the event of the order being extended, it will be valid for four months as against existing six month period.

In the wake of the instances of victimization of the honest officers at the hands of the political leaders, the Second Administrative Reforms Commission Report had made the above recommendations to protect the honest officers from political backlash and ensure an officer-friendly work environment.

News Source: NDTV | Economic Times
Image Source: Economic Times

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