Perform or perish: PM Modi's stern message to government employees

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed Union secretaries to take decisive action against non-performing or corrupt government employees in accordance with established rules, sources said.

Sources told The Times of India that during an interaction with central ministers and secretaries on Wednesday, PM Modi cited the Fundamental Rule 56 (j) of the of the CCS (Pension) Rules, which says that the appropriate authority can retire any government servant in public interest if it is of the opinion that he/she is unfit for retention in service.

The report said that the Centre is required to provide either a three-month notice or compensation in the form of pay and allowances equivalent to that period in cases of mandatory retirement.

The meeting took place a day after the election results of Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir.

The TOI report said that government workers who are 55 or older can be affected by the rule. Rule 48 allows the appointing authority to ask a government servant to retire in the public interest if he/she has complete 30 years of qualifying service.

Affected officers can respond to the decision and challenge it in court. So far, over 500 officers have been compulsorily retired under this rule.

Sources told TOI that PM Modi gave a clear message that government employees have to demonstrate performance and address people's issues.

Officials also highlighted the need to modify the existing process of screening, which is based on set benchmarks and not on ranking of government employees.

The report added that most employees get ratings which are higher than the benchmark and easily clear the yardsticks for promotion.

During the meeting, PM Modi told the ministers and secretaries that "good governance and development works" get rewarded, sources said. The remark was in reference to BJP's stellar show in the Haryana, where it is set to form its third straight government, and the party's best-ever performance in J&K.

The Prime Minister also urged top officials and ministers to ensure that public grievances are addressed comprehensively and promptly, rather than simply being shuffled between desks.

He also instructed secretaries to dedicate one day each week to handle these grievances, with ministers of state responsible for overseeing the process.