Abolition of Posts lying vacant for more than five years & abolition of Temporary AC posts which can not be filled up within November,2018 – reg.

Ref: -   (1)        Govt. of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure OM No. 7 (1)/E. Cord-1/2017 dated 16^thJanuary 2018.

            (2)        Govt. of India, Ministry of Home Affairs OM No. 19011/01/2015-Fin.II (Pt.) dated 19^th January 2018.

 In this regard  all should know  the following facts 

(i)        Posts of Regular Asst. Commissioner  are lying vacant for more than five years, not because that there is no work load justified for retention of such posts. It is because of the dismal failure of the authorities to take timely and prompt action to complete the DPC process to fill up those posts in a time bound manner. Due to this inordinate delay in filling up of those vacant posts, the remaining staff are compelled to do the work of those posts also. The abnormal delay in completing the DPC process is  a main reason for posts remaining unfilled for years together. Thus it can be stated  that a blanket order to abolish all posts lying vacant for more than five years is unrealistic and not rational.

(ii)      Posts of Temporary AC are created after assessing the workload based on time-tested parameters and time tests. Abolishing such posts after November,2018, in a most mechanical manner, even without re-assessing whether present workload justified retention of such posts by carrying out establishment review, will lead to imposing of heavy workload on the existing staff on a permanent measure which may create a chaotic situation in Govt. offices as the efficiency of offices may be adversely affected due to unbearable workload.

(iii)    It may be pointed out that it is during the last NDA Govt’s time in May 2001 executive orders were issued to abolish 2/3^rd (two-third) of all direct recruitment vacancies based on annual Direct Recruitment Plan in all departments without assessing whether the posts are justified or not. Lakhs of posts are abolished during the period from 2001 to 2008. Finally Sixth Central pay Commissions severely criticized the Govt’s policy of abolishing direct recruitment vacancies and opined that this has led to an “ageing bureaucracy” and strongly recommended to withdraw the abolition orders. Accordingly Govt. has withdrawn that orders and DOP&T has issued orders for filling up of all vacant posts.

(iv)     It is most unfortunate that again the present NDA Govt. has issued another orders in 2018 to abolish all posts lying vacant for more than five years without giving any consideration to the facts as to what is the reason for posts remaining vacant for such a long period, whether there is justification for retention of those posts as per establishment review etc.

N. B- 1.  If all the posts of Temporary AC will not be filled up within November, 2018 and if Govt will not approved continuance of such posts beyond five years , then all the unfilled posts will be abolished after November, 2018. Therefore immediate DPC is required to be conducted to fill up all the vacant posts of AC Temporary and AC regular. 

2. It is learnt that many officers are trying to stay the ensuing DPC in court . We can advise them that if they have any grievance they can approach court without insisting stay so that they can get notional promotion in future, but if posts will be abolished then no one can get anything including those will approach court for redressal of grievances. .