Secy board seeks option to join pvt sector on deputation

The proposal has met with some opposition, both from within and outside the CSB. It is to be given a final shape by the Committee of Secretaries, comprising the Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Finance Secretary and Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

The draft proposal prepared last month says this will “clear the congestion in the cadre and offer avenues to Government officials besides leading to an interactive administration.” It also makes the point that in the post-liberalisation era, the private sector is not perceived as an enemy but as a partner in the country’s growth. It argues that such a move would be “beneficial to both the company as well as the official concerned”.

To safeguard the Government’s interests, the proposal will have several riders. One of these is to have the official sign a bond saying he would return to the Government and that he would be allowed to join the private company on terms and conditions accepted by the Government.

According to the proposal, no official who has been directly dealing with a company in the course of discharging his official duties will be allowed to accept employment with that company. The CSB says the Government would have to exercise abundant caution to ensure that “transparency and fairness guide policy decisions”. In effect all officials will have go through a cooling off period before they can hope to join a private company. For example, a joint secretary working in the Ministry of Civil Aviation and is taking policy decisions which affect private airlines will not be immediately allowed to work for a private airline after his term in the aviation ministry is over.

The CSB plan is being finalised by the Establishment Officer and DoPT and will be given a final shape by the Committee of Secretaries before it is presented to the Union Cabinet. At present, officials are allowed to work on deputation in public sector undertakings and some select NGOs.