Assam: Stricter guidelines issued for officials on deputation in state

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: In a bid to streamline the deputation system of state government officials within the state, a set of new guidelines has been issued by the state Department of Personnel. The new guidelines reflect a stricter stance of the government regarding the officials under deputation.

This was evident in an office memorandum (OM) issued recently by the Personnel Department.

Regarding the existing conditions, the OM states that government officials are posted in various posts on deputation within the state, as per existing conditions laid down in the OMs of Finance Department issued in connection with deputation. As per an earlier OM, the concerned department shall ensure that any government official on deputation immediately reports back to his parent department on the expiry of the approved period of deputation, and if any official does not report back to his parent department, the period beyond the approved deputation term shall be treated as an unauthorized absence, and action shall be taken against him/her by the concerned authority as per rules.

The Personnel Department has reviewed the matter of deputation, particularly the matter of unauthorized overstay in deputation beyond the approved period, and reiterated that the existing provisions should be adhered to by all concerned. After careful consideration of all aspects of the matter, the department prescribed the new procedure in addition and consonance with the Finance Department’s earlier OMs.

The new rules state that the initial period of deputation shall be three years, unless the position demands a tenure of less than that, and thereafter, the administrative department concerned is competent to annually extend the period of deputation of the official, with the prior approval of the Chief Minister, for the next two years on the same terms and conditions as fixed by the Finance Department.

Also, that the borrowing authority must submit a request or provide consent for the continuation of an official’s deputation tenure at least one month prior to the end of the deputation period. In the absence of communication from the borrowing authority before the last date of the deputation period, the official will be deemed to be reverted back to his/her parent department upon the expiry of the deputation period. In case the borrowing authority or the state government official who is on deputation, or both, desires the absorption of the concerned official in the borrowing authority, prior approval of the Assam government will be required.

Further, it is stated that no borrowing authority will absorb any state government official who is on deputation without the prior acceptance of the resignation of the official from regular government service.

This time, the onus of renewing the deputation term before its expiry lies with the concerned official on deputation. It is the official’s responsibility to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to avoid any lapse in the deputation term.

It was also stated that there shall be no post facto approval or regularization of any unauthorized stay in deputation beyond the approved period. Any stay beyond the sanctioned period will be considered unauthorized and will not be regularized under any circumstances.

Moreover, the period beyond the approved deputation period will be treated as an unauthorized absence, and action will be taken against the official by the concerned authority as per rules. The rules will be applicable to all the officials presently on deputation, the OM stated.

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