After long wait, Telangana to expedite disciplinary cases against employees

Hyderabad: Telangana government has issued a time schedule to expedite the disciplinary cases against employees at various levels.

This was a long-pending demand of the employees’ unions.

Citing provisions under the Telangana Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1991 (adaptation orders 2016) and the AP Revised Pension Rules, 1980 (adaptation orders 2016), the government said that in necessary cases, criminal action would also be initiated by filing charge sheets in courts.

Delays defeating purpose

Despite repeated instructions for swift disposal, authorities observed that disciplinary proceedings were dragging on for years. In several cases, officials either retired before the charges were framed or faced charges only at the verge of retirement, undermining the very purpose of the action.

Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao stressed the need for prompt action, noting: “There should not be undue delay between the occurrence of offence or irregularity and framing of charges.”

Strict deadlines fixed

To streamline the process, the government has laid down specific timelines:

Two weeks for preliminary steps: From the date of appointment of the inquiry authority, inspection of listed documents, submission of defence documents, and nomination of a defence assistant must be completed within two weeks.

Two weeks for document verification: Scrutiny of witness relevance, collection of additional documents, and confirmation of inspections must also be finished in two weeks.

Timely hearings and summons: Summons to witnesses and dates for hearings will be fixed immediately after preliminary work.

Inquiry report and review: The inquiry authority must submit its report within two weeks, while the disciplinary authority, in consultation with the vigilance commission, must examine it within one week.

Aim: Swift and Transparent Action

The new guidelines are intended to ensure accountability and timely punishment of guilty officials while protecting the interests of honest employees. By enforcing deadlines, the government hopes to bring in transparency and prevent disciplinary cases from being kept pending indefinitely.