In a move aimed at checking delay in finalising such proceedings and pendency, the Centre is all set to engage retired Central and State Government employees for conducting departmental inquiries against delinquent officials.
Mentally and physically fit employees, if engaged will be provided a honorarium ranging between Rs20,000 to Rs75,000, per case, in addition to transport allowance of Rs40,000 and Rs30,000 per case if no secretarial assistance is provided by the department concerned.
The retired officers willing to serve as the Inquiry Officer should not be more than 70 years of age as on the April 1, of the year of his or her empanelment. They should be in sound health — both physically and mentally — and “should not be an accused officer in any pending inquiry,” as per the eligibility criteria of the DoPT for the job. The DoPT has sought comments from all stake holders on the draft policy before finalising it.
A three-member committee would be constituted by the respective cadre controlling authority for empanelment of retired officers. “Willingness of the retired officer to serve as the Inquiry Officer (IO) for conducting departmental inquiry will be called for by inviting applications. The panel of the retired officers created for the purpose of appointing Inquiry officers for conducting departmental inquiry will be valid for a period of three years,” as per a draft policy formed by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Panels of retired officers not below the rank of Deputy Secretary in Central government and equivalent officer in the state governments or PSUs to be appointed as the Inquiry Officer for the purpose of conducting departmental inquiries would be maintained level or rank-wise and place-specific where offices are located by each cadre controlling authority.
The Inquiry Officer will be required to submit the inquiry report after completing the inquiry within 90 days from the date of his or her appointment as the Inquiry Officer. Extension of time beyond ninety days can be granted only by the Disciplinary Authority, the DoPT said.