Resigned from government? Don’t worry, you can now join back

THE Central government has changed rules to allow officers to rejoin the government even after he or she resigns, but with a few riders. According to a notification, dated July 28, 2011, an officer can withdraw his resignation if the resignation was tendered “for compelling reasons which did not involve any reflection on his integrity, efficiency or conduct…” The new rules are called All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement Benefits) Amendment Rules, 2011.

But the request for withdrawal of a resignation will not be accepted by the Central government where an officer resigns to join a private commercial company or a corporation or company owned or controlled by the government. Also, the officer cannot rejoin the government if he has resigned with a view to be associated with any political parties or political movement.

No Padma award for serving bureaucrats

The government has reiterated that there is no decision to give Padma awards to serving bureaucrats. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, minister of state for home Mullappally Ramachandran said that serving bureaucrats can however get Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration, instituted in 2007.

The question was posed by Congress MP PL Punia who joined politics after retiring as an IAS officer. Punia was of 1971 batch.

Headless UP IAS Association

The IAS association of Uttar Pradesh has been without a president for one year. What’s more, its secretary Sanjay Bhoosreddy has left for central deputation recently. The senior-most IAS officer in UP is currently Ms Promila Shankar who should ideally be made the president of the association.