Review of government employees' performance; tool needed for work culture

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Central government has a rule to review employees' performance periodically to ascertain if their service delivery is worth the pay and other perks that they draw. This rule can also be made applicable for the State government employees as well.

Such periodic reviews under 'FR (Fundamental Rule) 56(J) or Rule 48 of CCS (Pension)-1972' ascertain if the service delivery of an employee is on a par or below par with the pay and perks he/she draws. If the service delivery is below par, the employee can be relieved from service with all benefits, but only after the person's attainment of 50 years of age or completion of 30 years of service. Of late, the Central government has laid stress on the periodic review of employees' performances.

Under this rule, if an appointing authority feels that the service which an employee delivers is not satisfactory, the authority has the right to give the employee a golden handshake. Since this rule has not been implemented by the State government, a section of employees seems to have got a free hand in attending offices and doing duties irregularly. Examples galore even at Dispur. In the State Secretariat, a section of employees habitually comes at 11 am or noon and leave office early. Some of them are even known for their shoddy jobs when they work in their offices. They, however, draw pay and perk same as every other well-performing employee. This practice has a damaging effect on the work culture in the State.

A top retired official said, "Since the Government of India has the rule of periodic review of employees' performance, the State government can also implement it. And its implementation is also not at all tough. The ACR (Annual Confidential Report) of an ACS officer speaks of his or her performance.

"For employees below the ranks of ACS officers, such confidential reports can be sought from departmental heads.

"While in service, I did pursue this rule two or three times. However, I didn't get the right support from the departments and the government."

According to sources, of late the State Finance department has evinced interest in implementing this rule. It is waiting for views from the Department of Administrative Reforms and Training and the Department of Law to implement it.

When asked on this vexed issue, SAKP (SadouAsamKarmachariParishad) chief adviser BasabKalita said, "A few years back the Personnel department issued an office memorandum on periodic review of performance. However, we haven't seen its implementation as yet. We've no objection to periodic review of employees' performances. Since the government pays salaries and other emoluments, it's quite natural that the employees have to deliver the right services. However, we're against intentional injustice to any employee in the name of periodic review of performance. Moreover, this attitude shouldn't be used as a tool to give golden handshake to employees attaining 50 years of age. If such incidents happen, we will oppose them."

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