The Odisha government has taken a stringent stance against bureaucratic delays by directing all departments to fix accountability for pending posting orders. In a clear warning, routine extensions in joining time will no longer be tolerated, and erring officials may face disciplinary action.
Concerns Over Inordinate Delays
The move comes amid growing concerns over significant delays in issuing detailed posting orders and joining instructions. Files have been kept pending at various administrative levels without adequate justification, leading to proposals seeking extension of joining time beyond six months. These delays have raised red flags during audit reviews.
Finance Department's Directive
Flagging the issue as serious, the finance department issued a letter to all department secretaries and senior officers on Friday. It stated that such practices result in the payment of 'idle salary' to employees who are not providing commensurate service, leading to an avoidable financial burden and administrative complications.
The department has issued a set of directives, asking departments to fix responsibility on officials whose inaction leads to extension of joining time beyond 30 days. The government has also ordered recovery of idle salary from erring officers.
Strict Scrutiny for Extensions
The instructions further emphasize that extensions beyond the admissible joining limit must not be granted as a matter of routine. Proposals involving extensions up to 120 days, and particularly those beyond six months, will be subjected to strict scrutiny, as per the finance department letter.
Interim Work Assignments
To curb wastage of resources, departments have been asked to ensure that employees who have reported for duty but are awaiting posting orders are assigned work during the interim period. This measure aims to optimize productivity and reduce the financial impact of idle salaries.
