The Centre has directed all government departments to conduct day-to-day hearing in disciplinary cases being enquired into by them against any delinquent employee.
The government has also directed all ministries to complete major penalty proceedings within 18 months time.
Apart from this, it has also been decided to give travelling and dearness allowances to a retired government employee in case he is appearing as a witness in an enquiry being conducted by concerned authority.
The move comes after the Ministry of Personnel accepted some of the recommendations of Committee of Experts on Disciplinary and Vigilance Inquiries (Hota Committee).
"It has been decided that once a regular hearing in a departmental proceeding is started, such hearing should, as far as practicable, be continued on a day-to-day basis, unless in the opinion of the Inquiry Officer, for the reasons to be recorded in writing, an adjournment is unavoidable in the interest of justice," the Ministry said in its missive issued to all ministries and departments.
It has been decided that in cases where any of the witnesses in a departmental inquiry is a retired government servant and is appearing before the Commissioners for Departmental Inquiries (CDI), the expenses on payment of admissible TA/DA to such witness would be borne by the Central Vigilance Commission and subsequently be adjusted with the department concerned, it said.
"It has been decided that all ministries or departments shall ensure that all major penalty proceedings against government servants under their control are completed and final orders are passed by the concerned disciplinary authority within 18 months from the date of delivery of charge-sheet on the delinquent government servant," the Ministry said.
