CCS (CCA) RULES - "Government servant' mean
CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICES (CCA) RULES, 1965
CCS (CCA) RULES - "Government servant' mean
(12) Imposition of penalty of reduction to a lower time scale of pay, grade, post or service –
Clause (vi) of rule 11 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965 provides for the imposition on a Government servant of a penalty of reduction to lower time scale of pay, grade, post or Service which shall ordinarily be a bar to the promotion of the Government servant to the time-scale of pay, grade, post or Service from which he was reduced, with or without further directions regarding conditions of restoration to the grade or post or service from which the Government servant was reduced, and his seniority and pay on such restoration to that grade, post or Service.
2. The Staff side of the National Council (JCM) has made a request that the penalty of reduction to lower time scale of pay in the said clause (vi) should not be imposed on the Charged Officer on a permanent basis on the ground that it is harsh and does not allow the employee to be promoted to the next grade even if he improves his working and the Competent Authority later finds him fit for promotion. The Staff Side has suggested that the penalty in question should be for a specified time-period with clear directions regarding restoration to the higher grade.
3. The existing rule position is that the imposition of the penalty of reduction to a lower grade, post or service is normally a bar to the promotion to a higher grade, post or service (from which he was reduced) unless the conditions of restoration are specified. It is open to the Disciplinary Authority to prescribe the conditions of restoration to the higher grade in deserving cases.
4. The minor penalties and major penalties in rule 11 of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965 have been graded in order of the severity to be awarded to a charged Government servant in proportion to the gravity of misconduct/negligence which has given rise to the charge-sheet. While the major penalties of compulsory retirement, removal from service and dismissal from service have been included as clauses (vii), (viii) and (ix) of the said rule 11, the penalty reduction to a lower time scale of pay, grade, post or Service has been incorporated therein as clause (vi). This clause also provides that while imposing this penalty, the Disciplinary Authority or the Appellate/Revision Authority is also required to indicate in the penalty order whether or not the individual charged Government servant would be eligible for restoration to the grade/post or Service from which he was reduced and his seniority and pay on such restoration and the conditions for such restoration. It will, therefore, be seen that the penalty has been provided to be awarded to an individual who may not be sent out of Government service (through dismissal/removal etc.) but who needs to be given a very severe penalty in view of the gravity of his misconduct.
5. Attention in this connection is also invited to the Government of India, MHA O.M. No. 9/13/92-Estt.(D) dated 10.10.1962 and No. 9/30/63-Estt. (D) dated 07.02.1964 which stipulates that an order imposing the penalty of reduction to a lower service, grade or post or to a lower time-scale should invariably specify the period of reduction unless the clear intention is that the reduction should be permanent or for an indefinite period. These instructions also indicate the manner in which the order should be framed when the reduction is for specified period of indefinite period. In case the intention of the Competent Authority is to award the penalty of reduction on permanent basis, the same may be specifically stated in the order so that the intention is conveyed to the Government servant in unambiguous terms and he is afforded full opportunity for submission of his appeal as provided in the rules.
[DOPT OM No. 11012/2/2005-Estt. (A), dated 14th May, 2007]
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