Promotions stuck over performance appraisal

Promotion of hundreds of officers from 15 central services has come to a standstill following a conflict between the government and judiciary over their performance appraisal. The impasse cropped up after the government in February 2008 directed that only officers with Very Good and above performance rating would be considered for promotion. That left Good babus in the cold as prior to 2008,Good was not an adverse entry and was not communicated to the officer for an appeal.

The strict implementation of the February 2008 directive 8212; using annual confidential report ACR of past five years opened floodgates for petitions in courts and the Central Administrative Tribunal. In May 2008,Supreme Court ruled that if Good was not communicated to an officer then it should not be taken as an adverse entry in ACR and promotion should not be denied. The issue escalated and in October 2008,SC ruled that Good babus should not have been considered for promotion to the higher grade8221;.

The issue continues to be unresolved with UPSC seeking firm instruction from Department of Personnel which in turn,has passed the buck on to Ministry of Law.