The Gujarat Government came down heavily on its 1000-odd senior officials by withholding their salaries
for not adhering to service rules of filing annual property returns.
These employees are Class 1 and Class 2 officials, said a source in the State General Administration Department (GAD). According to Chief Secretary JN Singh, the State Government had given extension up to March-end but many failed to submit their returns.
Hopefully they would file return as early as possible, said Singh, adding as of now showcause notices have been given to them and if they still fail to submit the State Government would initiate departmental enquiry against them. In April last, Singh had said about 3,000 of the Class 1 and 2 officials were yet to file their property returns with the Government and had threatened with the action of withholding the salaries for month of April.
If the officials fail to file their returns, Singh was quoted to have said then that it could impact the promotion, training and empanelment of such officials going forward.
Gujarat has about 12,000 officials in Class 1 & Class 2 cadre, who are required to file their annual property returns as per the all-India service rules.