Latest news with #Punishment&Appeal)Rules
The Print
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Haryana govt cracks whip: 80 irrigation officials in soup over quality of concrete used in projects
At least seven to eight SEs (superintending engineers) are also facing disciplinary action, besides two chief engineers. While the SEs will face action under Rule-8, a displeasure note will be served on the two chief engineers. The list of accused officials and employees includes names of JEs (junior engineers), SDOs (sub-divisional officers), and XENs (executive engineers). These officials have been charge-sheeted under Rule-7 of Haryana Civil Services (Punishment & Appeal) Rules, 2016. Gurugram: Haryana government Wednesday initiated action against 80 officials of the Irrigation & Water Resources Department (I&WRD) for alleged corruption and negligence pertaining to quality of hardened concrete used in various projects under the department's aegis. The names of these officials, however, have not yet been made public. This crackdown follows a detailed probe triggered by substandard construction samples that have caused significant financial losses to the state exchequer. Documents accessed by The Print suggest that a high-level committee, constituted on 5 June under commissioner and secretary Mohammed Shayin, IAS, was tasked with framing draft charge sheets and displeasure notes against the officials in question. The committee includes senior officers including Jaideep Rao (chief engineer, I&WRD), Rakesh Kumar (superintending engineer), Hanish Kumar (executive engineer), Ajeet Hooda (executive engineer), and Mandeep Sheokand (executive engineer). Directed by Rao, the panel identified officials ranging from JEs to chief engineers for penalties under Rule-7. Rule-7 provides for imposing a major penalty against a government employee, like dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement after giving him or her a reasonable opportunity to defend their actions. Rule-8, on the other hand, mandates minor penalties like censure, withholding a promotion or an increment after giving the employee a fair chance to defend themselves. The investigation stemmed from quality control failure uncovered in tests conducted earlier this year, for which 48 concrete samples were collected from multiple irrigation projects. Of these, 18 failed to meet standards. A follow-up letter dated 7 June from chief engineer Jaideep Rao addressed to SEs of the department's vigilance wing revealed that officials failed to analyse test results against specifications, leading to significant deviations and financial losses. The SEs were directed to submit a comprehensive report within two days, with daily progress updates to be shared with the department's commissioner and secretary. 'Any laxity in compliance is viewed very seriously,' Rao's letter warned. Confirming the action while speaking to ThePrint Wednesday, Haryana Irrigation Minister Shruti Choudhry termed it as part of the government's zero-tolerance policy on corruption. She highlighted that vigilance raids, prompted by repeated complaints, exposed systemic lapses as projects neared completion. The samples that failed quality tests included hardened concrete samples and HDP (high-density polyethylene) pipes, she said. Choudhry noted that substantial payments had already been made to contractors, and the government is exploring recovery options. 'The charge sheets, outlining specific allegations and evidence, will pave the way for legal proceedings, with guilty officials facing dismissal, salary cuts, or promotion bans, though they retain the right to defend themselves.' (Edited by Amrtansh Arora) Also Read: 'Kulguru, not V-C'—all official correspondence with Haryana education minister now only in Hindi
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Haryana introduces model online transfer policy to ensure fairness, transparency across govt cadres
The Haryana government has notified a 'Model Online Transfer Policy' to ensure fair, transparent, and efficient employee transfers across government cadres to enhance administrative efficiency and job satisfaction through a merit-based online system. Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi issued the notification on Friday, marking the withdrawal of all previous transfer policies, including the General Principles for Online Transfers (2020) and related departmental notifications. The policy covers employees in cadres with 50 or more sanctioned posts, excluding All India Services, Haryana Civil Services (Executive Branch), and Allied Services, unless exempted by the Human Resource Department (HRD). 'Smaller cadres with fewer than 50 posts may be included at the competent authority's discretion. All cadre posts, including positions at headquarters, are part of the transfer drive. Within 15 days of notification, departments must publish a list of covered cadres, specifying Prescribed Tenure, Minimum Tenure, and Unit, with provisions for periodic revisions with HRD approval,' the policy mentions. According to the policy, 'The post allocations shall be based on a composite merit score out of 80 points. Age contributes up to 60 points, calculated as age in days divided by 365 (up to four decimal points). For example, a 40-year-old employee scores approximately 40 points. Up to 20 points are awarded for special circumstances: 10 points for all female employees; 10 points for female employees who are unmarried and over 40, widows, divorced, or judicially separated; 10 points for male employees who are divorced, widowers with minor children, or judicially separated with minor children; 5 points for employees whose spouses work in State or Central Government if the transfer reduces posting distance; 10 points for spouses of military or paramilitary personnel; 10 points for employees or their immediate family with debilitating disorders (certified by authorized medical boards like AIIMS or PGI Chandigarh); 10 points for those with 100 per cent differently-abled or mentally challenged children; and up to 20 points for employees with disabilities under the RPWD Act 2016, based on disability percentage starting from 40 per cent.' Apart from this, an employee who has been awarded a major penalty under the HCS (Punishment & Appeal) Rules, 2016, will invite a penalty of '-10 (minus 10) marks' during the currency of the punishment. The policy supports employees with personal challenges such as women, those with medical conditions, or disabled children, enhancing access to preferred postings. Departments must comply with the 15-day deadline, and employees should ensure documentation like medical certificates. Employees may file grievances within 15 days of order issuance, but only after joining at the new place of posting. Complaints must be submitted through and will be addressed within the same time frame. The Chief Minister retains the authority to relax or modify provisions in the public interest or administrative exigency. The Human Resources Department will also be the final authority on clarifications. General online transfers will be made preferably once a year. However, transfer/posting necessitated by promotion, direct recruitment or administrative exigencies can be made anytime with the prior approval of the CM. 'The department will undertake rationalisation to redistribute or ascertain the number of posts in any unit based on administrative requirements and efficiency. This entire stage will be completed within 15 days. Within the first seven days, the department will undertake the preliminary rationalisation exercise. There may be a possibility that the number of employees posted in any unit is in excess of the administrative requirement. Such surplus employees will be required to participate in the ongoing transfer drive. Amongst such surplus employees, the employee with the longest stay shall have to participate in the transfer drive. In the case where more than one employee has the same period of stay, then the younger employee shall have to participate in the transfer drive. Further surplus employees, who belong to the Protected Category shall not be transferred without their consent subject to the condition that not more than 50 per cent of such excess employees in that unit belong to the Protected Category,' a government spokesperson explained.
