Officers who do not declare assets will not get promotion: PMO

New Delhi: In a stern message for transparency by the top rung of the bureaucracy, the Prime Minister’s Office has conveyed to key Central ministries that any delay by top babus in declaring their assets will not only come in the way of their promotions but erring babus may be kept out of sensitive ministries as well.

So far, the delay was covered by filing the wealth details at a later date and clearances were obtained post-facto. But in the fresh changes, no post facto clearances would be given by any ministry to erring babus. It has come to the notice of the PMO that despite several directions by the DopT, many officers are still delaying filing details of both their movable and immovable property returns with the government.

Those who have come under the scanner, are particularly sensitive ministries like home and defence where it is now being made clear to the babus that no delay in filing of individual property returns will be allowed. Such officers may not be considered for their next promotion. The PMO is also of the view that such top bureaucrats who do not adhere to the new transparency rulebook should be kept out of sensitive ministries and tasks assigned by the central government.  

Officers of the top government services like the IAS and IPS are supposed to file their wealth details with their respective cadre controlling ministries by January every year. In the past, while many officers have delayed filing their IPRs, some have not filed such details at all, the sources said.

The issue came up for discussion at the highest level in the government recently. Top sources said that by keeping erring bureaucrats out of sensitive ministries, it will prompt officers to function in a more transparent manner.