Babus told to return all phones,cars,ACs they milked from their PSUs

Dept of Personnel has asked govt officials to return by March 31 all mobile phones,chauffeur-driven cars,ACs,laptops provided by CPSEs.

Its finally here: an order from Department of Personnel & Training asking government officials to return by March 31 all mobile phones,chauffeur-driven cars,air conditioners,laptops,faxes that have been provided by Central Public Sector Enterprises.

Five months after a Committee of Secretaries decided that ministries with CPSEs under their thumb should not allow officers to use facilities owned by or paid for by these state-run companies,DoPT has issued instructions for not utilizing infrastructure of any CPSEs by government staff and that any such use shall attract suitable action against them.

Any manpower or other facilities from CPSEs already being availed by the ministries or departments will be returned by the concerned ministries at the earliest and definitely before March 31, says the order dated February 22 which expands the coverage to use of facilities from autonomous organizations under the government as well.

In case there is need due to exceptional circumstance to utilize a facility from a CPSE for a bona fide purpose related with official duties,the DoPT order says that the usage could be allowed by the Secretary concerned for a specified period after a careful assessment of the situation.

The DoPTs rationale is that there were enough guidelines already to provide required facilities for a modern office to officers liberalised purchase of computers to provide laptops to Deputy Secretary and above; liberal reimbursement of telephone charges; purchase of new vehicles/hiring private vehicles; facilities like fax,air conditioner for individual officers; reasonable ceiling for consumption of diesel or petrol by staff car.