ISLAMABAD :Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training ShafqatMahmood on Wednesday announced Civil Servants (E&D) Rules-2020 in order toboost the performance of bureaucracy and state institutions across thecountry.
Shafqat Mahmood, who is also heading the Cabinet Committee on InstitutionalReforms, addressing a press conference said that besides improving theeconomic condition, the government had also brought reforms in the civilservices. Considering the importance of the matter, Prime Minister’s Officehad been directly involved in the process, as it was top priority of thegovernment, he added.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had approved these Civil Servants(E&D) Rules-2020 in the cabinet meeting held on Tuesday under government’spolicy of institutional reforms.
These reforms had been introduced to improve performance of bureaucracy andstate institutions, he added.
These rules would ensure transparent and effective internal accountabilityof bureaucrats and bring efficiency and discipline in their service.
Under the new rules, inquiry against government officials will have to bedecided within around 105 days. 14 days for submission of response, 60 daysto inquiry committee and 30 days to authority to decide the case.
Earlier, no time frame was fixed to conclude the proceedings as a result ofwhich cases lingered on for years. Opportunity of personal hearing wouldalso be provided by the authority/hearing officer, he added.
For the first time, plea bargain and voluntary return have been included inthe definition of misconduct and the civil servants involved in them shallnow be proceeded against.
One of the main features of the rules is that in case of inquiry, the casewill be heard by the ‘authority, ‘inquiry officer’ or a ‘committee’ insteadof any ‘authorised officer’ who was assigned to decide the issue.
He said earlier it had been seen that whenever an officer (but not theauthority) was assigned to hold inquiry, he usually disposed of the mattereither by awarding minor punishment or under some influence or pressure. Hecould also decide the case in whatever time he deemed appropriate. However,the authority will now have to decide the case in 30 days.
According to the new rules, in case of Pakistan Administration Service andPolice Service of Pakistan officers posted in provinces, a two-monthtimeline has been provided to the chief secretary to submit fact-findingreport, failing which the Establishment Division can proceed on its own.
In order to expedite the inquiry process, the tier of authorised officerhas been eliminated, leaving only two tiers — the authority and inquiryofficer/committee.
Timelines have been introduced at every step of the proceedings.The procedural issues relating to provision of record, slackness on part ofdepartmental representatives, suspension and proceedings against officerson deputation/ leave/scholarship have been clearly provided in the newrules.
The rules further state that the Establishment Division has been authorisedto issue subsidiary instructions to avoid any delay in finalising theinquiries.
In case of multiple suspected officers in a single case, restriction ofappointing a single inquiry officer has been imposed to ensure transparencyand avoid different decisions in a single case.
Sharing the further details, he said the reforms have been approvedincluding Civil Servants, Promotion (BS 18-21) Rules, 2019, Civil Servants(Directory Retirement from Service) Rules, 2020, Efficiency and DisciplineRules 2020, Revised MP Scale Policy 2020, Rotation Policy 2020, andRationalization of Cadre Strengthen-Induction in PAS.
Describing the silent features of civil servants promotion, Shafqat saidthat the powers of the appointing authority have been categoricallydefined. If the inquiry, investigation or reference was pending in NAB, FIAetc. against any officer, will result in deferment of promotion. Promotioncan now be recommended in cases related to sub-judice seniority anddisciplinary or criminal cases pending for more tghan three years.
He said that revised weightages have been notified which included PERs 40percent, training 30 percent and evaluation by boards 30 percent.
To ensure transparency, reasons for deferment/supersession will be conveyedto concerned officers.
For retirement from service, the composition of retirement boards/committeehave been finalized including Chairman FPSC from BS-20 and above, Secretaryfrom BS-17 to BS-19, Seniour JS from BS-16 and below.
The grounds for directory retirement include adverse remarks in 03Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs) or 03 average PERs, and twicesuperseded.