The Centre has relaxed its ceiling of 10 years on tenure of personal staff to Union ministers, allowing such government employees to continue at their posts till general elections scheduled next year.
According to a policy laid down by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), a ceiling of ten years in the entire career and a sub-limit of five years as Private Secretary or Officer on Special Duty within the ceiling of ten years has been fixed, beyond which no person will be permitted to be appointed in the personal staff of ministers.
"In this regard, the ACC has decided that till the completion of the next general elections, these instructions may not be made applicable in respect of officers who are at present serving in any capacity in the personal staff of ministers and are proposed to be retained beyond-the laid down tenure limit," according to an office memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
However, no reason for relaxing the limit was mentioned in the memorandum.
Sources said the decision to relax the ceiling till next general elections was taken on the basis of views of the ministers and concerned departments in this regard.
As per the DoPT's guidelines, the ceiling of 10 years is applicable to private and retired persons.
"Every time an appointment in the personal staff is made, cadre authorities are supposed to check whether the officer has worked in the personal staff of a minister earlier and if so, his tenure be restricted to not more than ten years in his entire career," according to the DoPT's guidelines issued in March 2010.
"No relaxation will be granted" on this policy, it had said.
