In order to check inordinate delays in police verifications and other background check formalities of candidates securing a Government job, the Centre on Friday allowed the successful candidates to do a self-declaration and join duty.
So far, the concerned Ministry or department used to withhold the appointment letters of successful candidates until the procedural character and antecedent checks are done by multiple authorities including police. However, those candidates, who furnish wrong information in self-declaration, will face criminal and legal action.
The necessary instructions in this regard have been issued to all Ministries, departments and also brought to the notice of the State Governments and administrators of Union Territories. The new initiatives will help check graft also.
“The Government has decided that the issue of appointment letters need not be withheld pending the verification of character and antecedents of successful candidates. The appointing authorities will issue provisional appointment letters after obtaining the attestation form and self-declaration from the candidate,” a statement issued DoPT said.
In the appointment letter, it will be clearly mentioned that in case character and antecedents of the candidate is found not verified or any false information is given in his or her self-declaration, the provisional appointment will be cancelled forthwith and other criminal and legal action will also be taken, as a consequence, it said.
This decision aims to achieve the Government’s vision of ‘minimum Government and maximum governance’ and deliver citizen-centric good governance. The decision comes as the government job appointments were getting “delayed” as the process of police verification was taking two to six months.
As per existing provisions, the appointing authorities undertake verification of character and antecedents of successful candidates before issuing the formal appointment order.
“The Government has decided that now the verification of character and antecedents will be carried out but the issue of appointment letters need not be withheld pending such verification,” said the order.
“There have been informal feedbacks about undue gratification being demanded at the lower bureaucratic level to obtain this police verification. This contributes towards fresh incumbents entering government services with cynical attitudes towards the system,” a DoPT official said.