PANAJI
The Goa government has decided to take strict action against non-performing government employees to the extent of their retirement from service.
An office memorandum (OM) by the General Administrative Department (GAD) has directed the heads of departments in the Secretariat to stop the practice of transferring non-performing staff and instead examine such recommendations henceforth.
“Instances have come to the notice and time and again various requests are being received by this Department from the Departments housed in the Secretariat to replace some staff due to their lethargic approach towards office duties, disobedience, frequent late coming and for their “absolutely no interest to learn” behaviour,” reads the OM signed by Under Secretary (GA-I) Shaila Bhosle.
The GAD hitherto granted enough opportunity to such staff by transferring them to departments with less workload. However, they continued to underperform prompting the government to use this yardstick.
“Taking cognizance of repeated complaints from the heads of the departments, the Appointing Authority decided to initiate strict action against the underperforming and non-performing employees. They will be charged with dereliction of duties under FR 56 (j) which empowers the appropriate authority to retire any government servant in public interest,” it said adding,
“The heads of offices of all the departments in the Secretariat are required to take note of the same and henceforth any request for transfer of staff due to lack of performance shall be examined under the purview of this office memorandum”, the note says.
The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training) on August 28, 2020, issued the Office Memorandum to strengthen the administrative machinery by developing responsible and efficient administration at all levels and to achieve efficiency, economy and speed in the disposal of Government functions.
It says the Appropriate Authority has the absolute right to retire a Government servant under FR 56(j), FR 56(l) or Rule 48 (1) (b) of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 as the case may be, if it is necessary to do so in public interest.
However, premature retirement of Government servants under these rules is not a penalty and it is distinct from 'Compulsory Retirement, which is one of the prescribed penalties under CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965.
