Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 12

The period of nationwide lockdown to mitigate the threat of coronavirus will not to count towards conduct of certain departmental proceedings actions like suspension, disciplinary proceedings, review, etc that were otherwise required under All India Service rules to be completed in a time bound manner.

“The intervening period of lockdown shall be excluded while reckoning the periods towards completion of activities within the time limits prescribed for the purpose under ALL India Service / IAS / IPS / IPS Rules and regulations or instructions issued there under,” orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Training state.

In view of the pandemic caused by the spread of COVID-19 and unprecedented nation-wide lockdown, it may not be feasible to carry out time bound activities or events and adhere to time lines prescribed under various extant rules, the orders add.

Validity period of suspension, including its confirmation, review order of suspension and its communication to the central government by states, submission of written statements of defence, completion and submission of inquiry reports, period of limitation, and disciplinary proceedings initiated against a pensioner fall under the ambit of the order.

Acceptance notice of voluntary retirement scheme, concurrence of vacancy to state governments under All India Service Pay Rules and intimation of movable and immovable property have also been included in the said order.

The central government has also decided that after the lockdown is lifted, a minimum period of 15 days may be granted to completing the required activity or event if the time left to complete any task is less than 15 days.

The orders add that these relaxations are applicable only in such cases where there is an intervening lockdown period and will also not be applicable in cases where, in view of the pandemic, specific relaxation in timelines have been allowed separately.