In December 2015, while Supreme Court was hearing a case which involved a departmental probe which took nine years, it made the government to think upon that, disciplinary inquiries should be completed within six moths or at the maximum within a year after one extension.
The decision is now finally applied by the Modi-government that, disciplinary inquiries against central government officials must be completed within six months and officials would be given only 15 days to provide their defence.
So far as per the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, there was no time limit set for such hearings. But with the new amendment done, it will help speed up the disciplinary inquires. It will also help the government to take prompt action like dismissing or compulsorily retiring officials whose conduct at work is questionable.
The biggest change done is, six months dead line is set for the inquiry authority to conclude the inquiry and submit its report. If the inquiry exceeds the time limit, it will have to give a written report for the reason of extension with strong reasons to support and seek an extension for a period not exceeding six more months. In no event would a further extension be granted beyond a year, the new rules state.
The amended rules say that on receiving the charge, the official shall be required to submit his written statement of defence, if he so desires, and also state whether he desires to be heard in person, within 15 days. Under no circumstances, the extension of time for filing a written statement of defence shall exceed 45 days from the date of receipt of articles of charge.
A time limit of one month has also been fixed for authorities to produce documents requisitioned by the officer in his defence.