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.

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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.