Maharashtra cancels 'oral' appointments in ministerial offices, orders staff back by Sept 10

The Maharashtra government has ordered the immediate cancellation of appointments of officers and employees in ministerial offices and state departments who were brought in on deputation on a loan basis or through oral orders without following the prescribed procedureIn a circular issued on Tuesday Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal directed that all such officers and employees be sent back to their parent offices by September 10The government said the move was aimed at ensuring that appointments to ministerial offices follow established administrative procedures and that employees working in sensitive government functions have the required qualifications experience and service clearancesGovernment flags appointments made without approvalsAccording to the circular several appointments had been made without obtaining the mandatory approvals of the parent ministerial department the additional chief secretary in charge of General AdministrationServices the chief secretary and the chief ministerThe government said a large number of technical personnel including doctors stenographers teachers and engineers had also been brought into ministerial officesMany of these employees did not have the training or experience required for ministerial work it said adding that this had affected the functioning of the Mantralaya and established administrative processesThe government has now ordered that such appointments be discontinued and the employees returned to their respective parent officesBorrowing departments also faced staffing issuesThe circular said appointments made in this manner created difficulties for both the departments lending employees and those receiving themWhile ministerial offices gained additional personnel parent departments were left with vacancies that made it difficult to carry out their regular responsibilitiesThe government said this had adversely affected the functioning of parent departments and created administrative difficulties It also noted that training provided to employees in their original departments could effectively go to waste when they were moved elsewhere without following the prescribed processService verification not carried out in some casesThe government also raised concerns about the absence of proper verification when employees were appointed on deputation or through oral instructionsAccording to the circular such appointments did not necessarily involve verification of integrity certificates character certificates confidential reports departmental inquiries and other servicerelated recordsThe government said these checks were particularly important because ministerial offices handle administrative work that is highly sensitive in natureThe circular also termed the contractual extension of retired officers and employees belonging to cadres declared obsolete or dying cadres as inappropriateEmployees must return to parent officesUnder the new directions heads of offices and drawing and disbursing officers have been asked to submit reports by September 15 confirming that employees whose appointments have been cancelled have returned to their parent officesIf an employee fails to report to the parent office the concerned office has been directed to stop their salaryThe additional chief secretary principal secretary or secretary of the concerned department must submit a report to the chief secretarys office by September 20 on compliance with the orderThe government has also ordered that identity cards facerecognition access and attendance facilities linked to the cancelled appointments be discontinued immediatelyFuture appointments to follow prescribed processThe government has warned that any recurrence of such appointments could invite action under the Maharashtra Civil Services Discipline and Appeal Rules 1979For future appointments to ministerial offices the government has directed departments to strictly follow the procedure prescribed by the General Administration DepartmentWhere additional sanctioned posts are required proposals for increasing upgrading or restructuring posts along with proposals for raising pay scales must be submitted for the chief ministers approvalOnce approved the posts will have to be filled through the prescribed recruitment or appointment procedureGovernment seeks review of ministerial staffingThe circular also requires proposals for appointments outside the regular ministerial cadre to be routed through the prescribed General Administration Department process and approved by the chief ministerIt specifically directs that officers and employees from subordinate offices should not be appointed to ministerial offices on a loan basis or through oral ordersThe government has further ordered a review of vacant posts in ministerial departments in line with their sanctioned staffing structuresIt has also called for consideration of a separate administrative mechanism to manage manpower in ministerial offices address servicerelated issues and maintain administrative disciplineWith inputs from PTI