The Centre has asked all departments under it to identify and ensure availability of deputy secretary or director-level officers who could be deputed with newly-appointed ministers as private secretaries.
"Since the process of appointing private secretaries to ministers takes some time, it would be in order to provide the services of an officer within the department till then, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) told all ministries in an office memorandum.
Therefore, as an interim measure it may be advisable to identify an officer working at deputy secretary (DS) or director-level in the ministry or department who could be deputed to work with the new minister until a regular private secretary of the minister's choice is appointed, it said.
The DoPT said that it would be an interim measure "for a short period of a month or so". "It may be ensured that such officer has sufficient tenure for this purpose. Such an officer would continue to work as DS or Director and will not be eligible for re-designation as PS unless the Minister wants him as a regular PS," the missive said.
It has asked all ministries to send a formal proposal later for regular appointment of PS or Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the minister.
According to rules, a cabinet minister is entitled for 15-personnel as its personal staff. It includes a PS, two each additional PS and assistant PS, one each first personal assistant, second personal assistant, Hindi stenographer, lower division clerk (LDC), driver, attendant and four peon.
A Minister of State (MoS) is entitled for 13-member official staff. It includes, one each PS, additional PS, assistant PS and first personal assistant, and two second personal assistant. An MoS also gets one each Hindi stenographer, LDC, driver and attendant and three peon.
A Minister of State holding independent charge of a Ministry or Department may be given one extra assistant PS, if required.
A total ceiling of ten years be prescribed beyond which an officer may not be permitted to be appointed in the personal staff of ministers, irrespective of level, according to DoPT rules.
