Government orders action against retired officials who had erred while in service

The Tamil Nadu government has advised some of its departments to swiftly initiate departmental proceedings against retired officers, who were found to have been involved in irregularities or misappropriation during their service.

It advised authorities to initiate the proceedings within the time limit prescribed in Rule 9(2)(b)(ii) of the Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, 1978.

It also advised scrutiny of all the files that suggest dropping of action against such retired officers on the grounds of delay, to find out as to who was/were responsible for such delay. It further asked department heads to initiate necessary action against those officials responsible for the delay.

A communication in this regard was issued two weeks ago to the authorities heading various wings of the police force — law and order, fire and rescue services, prisons and correctional services — and those heading various departments, including transport and road safety, forensic sciences, prosecution, civil supplies, prohibition and excise, and TASMAC.

The advisory to the authorities followed a communication from the Vigilance Commissioner and Commissioner for Administrative Reforms, which said that some Secretariat Departments, after failing to initiate appropriate actions against such retired officials, sent proposals suggesting the dropping of action against them.

During a scrutiny of files that suggested dropping of action against retired officers, it was found that after a delay stretching beyondthe prescribed timelimit, files were put up stating that departmental proceedings against retired officials could not be initiated due to the lapse in time limit.

The Commission had further recommended initiating departmental proceedings within four years against such retired officers, whose cases were investigated and report submitted by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption.