This Article is From Apr 30, 2016

15 Officers 'Retired' Under 60-Year-Old Rule, More Under Scrutiny Warns Government

The rule provides for the review of officers who are either over 50 or have been in the government for 30 years. (Representational Image)

Highlights

  • Action against those with "suspect integrity" under 60-year-old rule
  • Rule allows review of officers either over or in government for years
  • PM Modi has often spoken about making bureaucracy performance-oriented
New Delhi: The Modi government has compulsorily retired 15 officers to send out a stern message to the bureaucracy - shape up or be ready to quit.

The officers have been removed under a 60-year-old rule used for the first time against those in the government with "suspect integrity".

More officers are under scrutiny and face removal, say government sources.

The rule provides for the review of officers who are either over 50 or have been in the government for 30 years.

"We have taken this very seriously and that is why you see from a zero, the number of removals has gone to double digits and we are constantly monitoring," said Jitendra Singh, minister for personnel.

He said the cabinet secretariat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office have been constantly assessing the performance of officers and seeking updates how to weed out officers who have doubtful integrity.

The minister, however, clarifies that officers must not be victimized for taking decisions.

"We want to protect them and ensure that there is no needless harassment of officers," Dr Singh told NDTV.

Since he took charge in 2014, PM Modi has spoken, more than once, about making the bureaucracy performance-oriented and accountable.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister struck a different note after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal warned officials in the capital: "Work with us or quit and fight us in polls."

Addressing a gathering of bureaucrats on Civil Services Day, PM Modi said: "I have never had to raise my voice to a bureaucrat. I never had a bitter experience with a bureaucrat."
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