#SERVANT OF THE DAWN PROFESSIONAL#

One of the main features of the rules was that in case of an inquiry, the case would be heard by the authority, an inquiry officer or a committee, instead of any authorised officer who was assigned to decide the issue, he said.Д®arlier it was seen that whenever an official was assigned to hold an inquiry, he usually disposed of the matter either by awarding a minor punishment or under some influence or pressure, the minister said. Plea bargain and voluntary return had been included in the definition of misconduct and the civil servants involved in these practices would now be proceeded against, he said. An opportunity of personal hearing would be provided by the authority/hearing officer to the official against whom an inquiry is being conducted, Mr Mehmood said. Under the new rules, the minister said, an inquiry against a government official would have to be decided within about 105 days: 14 days for submission of response, 60 days for the inquiry committee and 30 days for the authority to decide the case.Д®arlier, no timeframe was fixed to conclude the proceedings and as a result cases lingered on for years. The minister expressed the hope that the Rules would boost the performance of bureaucracy and state institutions.ДЄccording to the minister, these rules would ensure transparent and effective internal accountability of bureaucrats and bring efficiency and discipline in their service. The grounds for directory retirement include adverse remarks in three Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs) or as many average PERs, and being superseded twice. Mr Mehmood said that for retirement from service, the composition of retirement boards/committees had been finalised, which included chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission for officials in BS-20 and above, secretary for officials in BS-17 to BS-19 and senior joint secretary for officials in BS-16 and below. To ensure transparency, reasons for deferment/supersession would be conveyed to officials concerned. He said that revised weightages had been notified for promotion, which included 40 per cent for personal evaluation reports (PERs) and 30pc each for training and evaluation by the Central Selection Board. The minister said promotion could now be recommended in cases related to sub-judice seniority and disciplinary or criminal cases pending for more than three years. If an inquiry, investigation or reference was pending against an official in the National Accountability Bureau, Federal Investigation Agency or any other investigation agency, his promotion would be deferred. He said under the Civil Servants Efficiency and Discipline (E&D) Rules 2020, promotion of a civil servant would be deferred if he/she was facing any criminal proceedings.

#SERVANT OF THE DAWN PROFESSIONAL#

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has said that reforms in the civil service would pave the way for вЂforcedвЂ™ retirement of delinquent officers from government service and introduction of tough criteria for promotion of bureaucrats.ДЇederal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood, who is also chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Institutional Reforms, told a press conference on Wednesday that Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday approved these reforms and that the rules that governed the civil service had been brought in conformity with the reforms.

Plea bargain, voluntary return included in definition of misconduct.

Promotion of official facing inquiry to be deferred.New rules to ensure internal accountability of bureaucrats: minister.

Servant of the dawn