CS’s directive to identify non-performing employees creates ripples in official circles

By: Afaq Bhat

Srinagar: Recent direction of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, Arun Mehta, to initiate a process to identify the non-performing government employees has created ripples among the official circles across the Union Territory.

A government employee while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Most of us are aware of the fact that service rules have been amended and anyone can be shown the door either after attaining age of 48-years or completing 22-years of service. Non-performance can become a major reason for anyone of us being sacked.”

It’s in place to mention here in October last year the J&K Government had introduced certain substitutes in 226(2) Article of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations.

A notification issued by Finance Department had stated: “226 (2): (a) Notwithstanding anything contained in these Regulations, Government may, if it is of the opinion that in the public interest to do so, require any Government servant other than one working on a post which is included in Schedule II of these Rules, to retire at any time after he has completed 22 years of qualifying service or on attaining 48 years of age, provided that the Appropriate Authority shall give a notice to Government servant at least 3 months before the date on which he is required to retire or 3 months of pay and allowance in lieu of such notice.”

“After the notification was issued no exercise was started to review the performance of the employees. But after the recent direction of the Chief Secretary things have started moving,” said a source.

He said, “Directions are clear that only deadwood has to be identified and the employees, whose performance is up to the mark won’t be disturbed. Different parameters have been fixed to check the performance of the employees. The ones whose performance is upto the mark need not worry as they will not be touched. But non-performers can face the axe.”

An observer said, “Since the day government has amended the service rules, the employees have realized that they cannot take things for granted and if they don’t perform then they can end up in a soup.”

He said, “Another change that has occurred is that the culture of keeping files pending in the offices too has vanished. Now, employees try to finish their work quickly as they know that they are being watched.

The observer said that anti-graft agencies like Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) getting more teeth and these becoming active too have put pressure on the employees. “Employees need to perform to save their jobs,” he added.

Related Articles