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In order to maintain a high standard of efficiency in governance, the Centre has asked all states to review the working of allIndia service officers so that non-performing officials could be retired from services.
The Department of Personnel and Training, in a missive, has asked for the review of Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Forest Service officers, who have completed at least 15 years of service.

“A member of the allIndia service who has completed 15 years of qualifying service or has completed 25 years of qualifying service or attained the age of 50 will, invariably, be found to occupy a senior administrative post.

“It would not be acceptable to find that such a member has become a mere passenger in the senior level in which he or she is placed. One must always guard against the operation of the Peter Principle,” Dr S.K. Sarkar, additional secretary in the DoPT, said.

The Peter Principle, coined by psychologists Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull in 1969, is a belief that in an organisation where promotion is based on achievement, success, and merit, the employees there will eventually be promoted beyond their level of ability. In common par

lance, the principle is also phrased as “employees tend to rise to their level of incompetence”.
In January, the Centre had amended Rule 16 (3) of all-India services rule which allowed a performance review only after completion of 30 years of qualifying service.

The new rules gives powers to the government to give retirement to these officers in “public interest” after at least 15 years in the job. The government can again carry out such a review after the officer completes 25 years of service or turns 50 years old.

The DoPT also raised doubts on the efficiency of officers where the overall grade or assessment were

mentioned as “average” in the Annual Confidential Report or Performance Appraisal Report.
“To describe a member of an all-India service as average is not complimentary. While it may not be an adverse remark, it is nevertheless a reflection upon his work or conduct and should be taken to indicate output, which is ordinary and routine,” the DoPT said in its circular to Chief Secretaries of states and Union Territories.

It said that remarks like ‘Adequate’ and ‘Satisfactory’ over a period of 5-7 years, without mention of any notable achievement, would also indicate that the member has reached a plateau.

— PTI