PM Modi comes down on non performers, asks ministers to retire any staffer in 'public interest'

Coming down heavily on non-performers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked Union secretaries to carry out rigorous assessment of performance of employees as per rules, which give absolute right to govt to retire any staffer in “public interest”, reported ToI.

ToI's report quoting the sources said in an interaction with all central ministers and secretaries on Wednesday, a day after J&K and Haryana assembly poll results were declared, the PM referred to Fundamental Rule 56(j) of the CCS (Pension) Rules, which specify that the “appropriate authority” can retire any govt servant if it is of the opinion that he/she is unfit for retention in service. Govt needs to give three-month notice or three months of pay and allowances in case of compulsory retirement.

Sources further told ToI that Modi mentioned how the PMO received 4.5 crore letters, including grievances from people, in the last 10 years, compared to only 5 lakh such letters received during Manmohan Singh’s last 5 years in office.


Similarly, Rule 48 specifies that at any time after a govt servant has completed 30 years qualifying service, “he may be required by the appointing authority to retire in public interest”. Such officers get an opportunity to respond and can also challenge the order in courts. Govt departments have so far compulsorily retired over 500 officers invoking these rules.

Officials said there is a need to tweak the current regime as the present screening system is based on benchmarks and not on ranking of employees.

Addressing the ministers and secretaries, Modi said good governance and development works get rewarded by people, a reference to BJP’s hat-trick in Haryana and a good show in J&K, sources said.

The PM asked top officials and ministers to ensure public grievances are comprehensively and expeditiously addressed, rather than files being pushed from one desk to another. He also asked secretaries to spare a day every week to address grievances, and ministers of state to monitor them.

(with ToI inputs)