Administrative oversight in tracking deputation tenures is no longer acceptable. The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) has flagged a recurring lapse where Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ officers proceed on deputation or foreign service and remain there indefinitely, often without the mandatory periodic review by their Cadre Controlling Authorities. A fresh Office Memorandum now mandates a strict review of all such cases where the officer has been away from their parent cadre for six months or more.
The “6-Month Review” Protocol
Deputation is not a permanent transfer; it is a temporary loan of service. However, Establishment Divisions often treat the release of an officer as “file closed,” leading to situations where officers overstay their approved tenure or lose touch with their core cadre progression.
The new directive requires Ministries and Departments to stop treating deputation monitoring as a passive activity. The lending department (Parent Cadre) must actively review the status of every officer currently on foreign service. This isn’t just about updating a list; it is about verifying if the “public interest” that justified the initial deputation still exists.
- Target Group: Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ Officers.
- Trigger Point: Deputation/Foreign Service exceeding 6 months.
- Action Required: Detailed review of tenure, extensions, and cooling-off liabilities.
- Responsibility: Joint Secretary (Admn) / Cadre Controlling Authority.
Why This Audit Matters Now
Overstaying on deputation has financial implications. When an officer stays beyond the approved term without a valid extension order, the Deputation (Duty) Allowance becomes inadmissible. Furthermore, unauthorized overstay can be treated as a break in service, impacting pension qualifying service.
Officers often assume that “no news is good news” regarding their extension. This OM clarifies that silence from the parent cadre does not imply consent for extension.
Checklist for Administrative Officers
For Section Officers and Under Secretaries handling the “E-I” or “Admn” desks, this review involves specific verification points. You cannot simply forward the borrowing department’s request.
| Review Parameter | Audit Checkpoint |
|---|---|
| Tenure Cap | Has the officer crossed the 5-year (or 7-year) absolute limit? |
| Cooling Off | Is the officer due for mandatory cooling off before next assignment? |
| Allowance | Is Deputation Allowance Rules 2026 Rates Calculation being paid correctly or has it stopped? |
| Cadre Clearance | Is the NOC valid for the current extended period? |
Note on Joining Time: Once a deputation is terminated (either by tenure end or premature repatriation), the officer must adhere strictly to the Joining Time Rules 2026 Transfer Distance 10 Days 12 Days Calculation. Any delay in reporting back to the parent cadre is often marked as ‘Dies Non’.
Can a department refuse to extend deputation?
Yes. The lending department (Parent Cadre) has the absolute right to recall an officer or refuse extension if the officer’s services are required in the parent ministry.
What happens if review is not done?
Failure to review may lead to ‘administrative limbo’ where the officer’s APARs are missing, and their promotion in the parent cadre gets delayed due to non-availability of vigilance clearance.
हिंदी सारांश
कार्मिक एवं प्रशिक्षण विभाग (DoPT) ने सभी मंत्रालयों को निर्देश दिया है कि वे ग्रुप ‘ए’ और ग्रुप ‘बी’ के उन सभी अधिकारियों के मामलों की समीक्षा करें जो 6 महीने या उससे अधिक समय से प्रतिनियुक्ति (Deputation) पर हैं। इसका उद्देश्य यह सुनिश्चित करना है कि अधिकारी अपने कार्यकाल (Tenure) से अधिक समय तक बाहरी विभागों में न रहें। यदि कोई अधिकारी बिना अनुमति के प्रतिनियुक्ति पर बना रहता है, तो इसे सेवा नियमों का उल्लंघन माना जा सकता है और उनका भत्ता रोका जा सकता है।
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