Centre warns officers on deputation overstaying foreign postings of disciplinary action

The order said it is the responsibility of immediate superior officer to ensure that officer on deputation does not overstay

The Centre has warned officers who overstay their foreign postings and deputations of disciplinary action. The move comes after the government said it was still receiving proposals for regularisation of the period of overstay beyond the approved term of deputation.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), in its latest order, has asked all central government ministries and departments to review the status of their deputation cases and avoid delayed closure of cases involving overstay beyond the approved term of deputation in favour of delinquent officials. The order said it would be the responsibility of the immediate superior officer to ensure that the officer on deputation does not overstay.

"In the event of the officer overstaying for any reason whatsoever, he or she is liable to disciplinary action and other adverse civil service consequences, which would include the period of unauthorised overstay not being counted as qualifying service for the purpose of pension and that any increment due during the period of unauthorised overstay being deferred with cumulative effect, till the date on which the officer rejoins his parent cadre," the DoPT said, reiterating its earlier directives in this regard.

The government said it is primarily the responsibility of the borrowing organisations to ensure that officers on deputation are relieved on the date of expiry of their deputation tenure. "Any proposal for extension of the tenure of deputation under rules should be initiated sufficiently before the expiry of the tenure. Besides, the responsibility rests with the deputationist and the lending organisations as well, to bring to the notice of the borrowing organisation about the expiry of the deputation tenure," the DoPT said, seeking "strict compliance" with its order dated March 22.

It said the powers to extend the tenure of deputation, where absolutely necessary in the public interest, to the borrowing organisations up to a period not exceeding seven years at a stretch with the approval of the minister of their administrative ministry or department concerned. It said that despite the relaxation allowed in the provisions governing tenure of deputation or foreign service, proposals continue to be received for regularisation of the overstay period beyond the approved deputation term.