RAIPUR: In a clear message that indiscipline and poor conduct are not acceptable, Chhattisgarh imposing strict rules has extended the training duration of 31 state civil services probationers by six months.
For the probationers, the order apparently seems nothing less than a punishment as they have to wait for another six months to prove their good performance before they get their field postings.
With their performance being cited as “unsatisfactory”, the general administration department (GAD) issued the order for additional six months of training for all 31 trainee civil servants.
“Never before were so many officers asked to undergo an additional six months of training for their unsatisfactory conduct, behaviour and performance. We issued the order based on the screening committee report received from the Academy of Administration,” secretary (GAD) D D Singh told the New Indian Express.
The 31 officials of the 2015 batch are undergoing training together in the academy and have been assigned responsibilities in different districts. As a part of a field visit, these probationers were taken to various places under the study tour.
During one of their visits to the pilgrim destination of Kabirpanthis at Damakheda in Baloda bazar district, the officers expressed their "displeasure and refused" to sit on the floor to receive the devotional offering unless the chairs were arranged for them. They also “declined” to continue their visit to the science centre in Raipur as part of their tour.
Their behaviour and actions were reported by the accompanying officer in charge of the academy to higher authorities. They were served a notice seeking an explanation for their reported “misconduct”.
The screening committee conducted a probe and submitted the report recommending the extension of training the accused probationers by six-months.
None of the officials were willing to speak against the order except that they found it “inappropriate”.
Besides the merit list prepared by the state public service commission, the academy also gives numbers to trainee officers based on discipline and performance maintained during training.
“After tallying the numbers secured in the PSC and those allotted by the academy, which is 12 marks, the final grading list is prepared”, a senior officer said.