Deputation should not be treated as a tool for “comfortable life”, says Govt

THE government has said deputation should not be treated by officers as an instrument for a comfortable life, and hometown postings through deputation need to be discouraged. In a DoPT office memorandum (OM) dated May 16, 2013, it asked the lending departments to closely monitor deputation process so as to curb…
tendency to allow extensions on extraneous grounds, and overstay. In fact, deputations beyond five years have now become more a norm than an exception, and in many cases officers remain on deputation with the expectation that they would get extension of tenure with retrospective effect.
But a November 2006 office memorandum said that the deputationist officer is “deemed to have been relieved on the date of expiry of the deputation period unless the competent authority has with requisite approvals, extended the period of deputation, in writing, prior to the date of its expiry”. These instructions were reiterated in March 1, 2011 office memorandum.
In 56th report of the action taken replies of the government on the observations contained in the 51st report on the demands for grants (2012-13) of the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions by the department related parliamentary standing committee observed inter-alia that policy on deputation envisages mobility of personnel between departments etc. so that the employee and the departments benefit from the process.
“The tendency of treating deputation as a tool to ensure more comfortable, or even hometown postings is required to be discouraged. The instrument of deputation serves public interest only when there is a rational connection with the qualifications and work experience of the deputationist, and the deputation continues for a reasonable period. This would also ensure that both the lending as well as the borrowing department benefit from the experience/exposure of deputationist officer,” the DoPT office memo said.

Action and Appointments
a) Rajeev Chawla, a 1987 batch Karnataka cadre IAS, presently in the cadre, has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of higher education.
b) Surya P Singh Parihar, a 1986 batch MP cadre IAS, has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of environment and forests.
c) The competent authority has approved the proposals of the department of commerce to re-designate the posts of deputy secretary presently held by 1999 batch Karnataka cadre IAS MS Srikar and 1999 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS Mughda Sinha as Directors. Srikar had earlier worked as private secretary UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani.
d) Dr Rajesh Kumar, a 1990 batch West Bengal cadre IPS officer, has been appointed as OSD in the personal staff of the minister of culture Smt Chandresh Kumari Katoch.