A three-member committee has suggested department of personnel to link promotion of IAS officers to next higher grade with their submission of annual immovable property returns (IPR).
The panel, which consists of additional secretary level officers of department of personnel, has recommended centre to lay down provisions mandating timely submission of IPR as prerequisite for being promoted to next higher grade applicable to the officers of the All India Services for all central government services.
“This would ensure uniform standards of transparency, accountability and probity,” the panel submitted.
According to sources, the panel has also recommended changing deadline of online submission of IPR from the existing January 1 to 31 timeline to the April 1 to 30, sources said.
“This will ensure easier compliance as this time coincides with filing of income tax returns. This will also ensure greater accuracy,” sources said.
The panel was constituted as large number of IAS officers across the country were found not filing their IPR in time.
The committee has further suggested that all present and future mechanisms to promote greater compliance regarding timely filing of IPR should be applicable uniformly to all officers of the central civil services.
In a letter to all secretaries and chief secretaries of states, establishment officer and additional secretary of department of personnel Deepti Umashankar has asked for timely submission of IPR from all IAS officers for the year 2023 as on January 1, 2024.
According to a report, there were 158 IAS officers, who had not filed Immovable Property Returns of 2021 while there were 146 such officers in 2020.
Similarly, 128 has not filed in 2019 and 135 in 2018.
What IPR rules say?
As per rule 16 (2) of AIS (Conduct) Rules 1968, every member of the service are required to submit their annual immovable property return by January 31 or disciplinary proceedings could be intimated against them. The information should full particulars regarding the immovable property inherited by the officer or owned or acquired on lease or mortgage either in the name of officer or in the name of any member of family or in the name of any other person.
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