NEW DELHI: Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar may face contempt proceedings for skipping two Parliamentary panel meetings— on August 28, 2016 and December 14, 2016—concerning changes in IFS promotion rules, said sources.
The matter may be referred to the Committee on Privileges through Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. The Committee on Subordinate Legislation is examining an amendment made in the IFS (recruitment, cadre, seniority and promotion) Rules, 1961 through an executive order issued in 2008 by former foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon.
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar has invited the wrath of a Parliamentary panel for skipping summons regarding additional promotion rules in the IFS twice. “MEA told the panel that he is busy and sought a mutually convenient date. The panel suggested that senior MEA officials be deputed to give oral evidence. No one turned up,” sources said.
Promotion norms for Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary and Secretary of IFS were formulated following a directive from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. After approval, additional requirements were circulated through then foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon’s executive order dated July 24, 2008. The MEA said these were being followed for the last eight years. However, MEA is not the competent authority as Menon’s order exceeds conditions provided under the rules framed under the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution, said sources.
“The new rules framed in the 2008 instruction are prone to misuse by the ministry or officials to deny or delay an officer’s fundamental right to be promoted,” sources added. Menon’s executive instruction had enforced additional parameters for the promotion of officers from IFS grade IV (Director) to IFS grade III (Joint Secretary). They have to serve for two years at a mission abroad as first secretary or counselor or at MEA HQ as under secretary/deputy secretary/director.