'Cooling off' made mandatory for PS, OSDs to ministers -Governance Now

'Cooling off' made mandatory for PS, OSDs to ministers

Officers working as PS or OSD to ministers who have not completed their cooling-off period to be sent back to the parent cadre after tenure with minister ends, says department of personnel and training memo

Brajesh Kumar | June 17, 2013

In what could act as a deterrence to arbitrary appointment of IAS/IPS/IRS officers as private secretary (PS) to ministers, the department of personnel and training (DoPT) has issued an order by which officers who have not served their “cooling-off period” and are appointed PS/OSD to ministers will be repatriated to their parent cadre soon as their stint with the minister ends.

Besides, they will also have to serve the cooling-off period – a minimum of three years between two central deputations – afresh, the order states.
“Officers of all the three All India Services (including IPS) as well as central services who are appointed as PS/OSD without completing their ‘cooling-off’ should be reverted to their cadre once their term as PS/OSD ends for whatever reason,” an official memorandum sent to all central ministries and state government last week said.

ALSO READ: Why babus want to be private secys to ministers now

According to the memorandum, an informed consent would got from the officers about their willingness to be appointed PS or OSD to a minister, and whether they are fully aware of the condition that they would be reverted to their cadre once their term ends. They would also be told beforehand about the requirement to complete the "cooling off" afresh,” the order said.

Meanwhile, officers who are on the offer list – that is, babus who have completed their cooling-off period and have applied for central deputation – and are appointed PS/OSD will be allowed to complete their normal period of central deputation if their term as PS/OSD ends, it was informed.

Those not on the offer list but have served their mandatory cooling-off period would also be allowed to complete their full term of central deputation, subject to their willingness and suitability, in case their term with the minister ends, the DoPT says.

The revised policy would have a prospective effect and will cover only officers appointed PS/OSD after the date of revision of the policy. The order would not affect those who are already working as PS/OSD in the central government at present.

Comments

Other News

Gandhian movement after Gandhi failed: Ram Guha

The Gandhian movement in India, after Gandhi’s death, failed, says Ramachandra Guha, and blames Vinoba Bhave for it. But the movement found new, fertile grounds around the world and succeeded in bringing about a change in South Africa, the US and elsewhere. It is high time it returned home. Of cour

When religion, politics and Bollywood come together

Tavleen Singh, noted journalist and political commentator, has turned to fiction, with her debut novel ‘The Actor’ (HaperCollins India). Set in the near future, it has a superstar, Amit Singh, turning to politics, when the political landscape is dominated by prime minister Guru Gaynendraj

Cabinet approves setting up of Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority

The union cabinet, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the setting up of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), called Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA), to strengthen research, planning, appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment within the broad domains of Transp

Why foundational literacy and numeracy is key to school education

Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) are often described as the building blocks of education. Yet, their significance goes well beyond a child’s ability to read a sentence, write a response or solve a basic mathematical problem. These foundational skills shape how children understand the world,

When police data becomes the algorithm

For decades, policing has followed a familiar sequence: a crime occurs, the police respond, an investigation produces records and those records become part of the institutional memory of the criminal justice system. Artificial intelligence is beginning to alter that sequence. Instead of merely recording

Before India voted, the framers worried about the referee

“We are making a Constitution forever and not only for today.” Shibban Lal Saksena said this in the Constituent Assembly on June 15, 1949. He was warning that a ruling party might one day choose a loyalist to run India’s elections. Seventy-seven years later, the Supreme Court is wrestli