ACC nod mandatory for extending chief executives' tenure: Govt

Mandatory approval is required from the Prime Minister-led Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) for extending the term or assigning additional charge of the post of chief executive in statutory bodies and autonomous institutions, the Centre has said.
However, in cases of unanticipated vacancies arising due to premature repatriation, resignation, death, etc. Of the incumbent, the ministries, with the approval of the minister- in-charge, can assign additional charge for an initial period of six months, it said.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued a fresh set of guidelines for assigning additional charge of chief executives in autonomous institutions.

In cases of anticipated vacancies on account of completion of tenure or superannuation of the incumbents, approval of the ACC is required for assigning additional charge for the post, it said.
As to the proviso for assigning additional charge for an initial period of six months in cases of unanticipated vacancies, DoPT said the ministries "shall ensure that the additional charge is assigned to an officer in the same station, as far as possible, in which the post has fallen vacant".
In all other cases of unanticipated vacancies, where the additional charge is proposed to be assigned to an officer, who despite being the senior-most in an organisation, is holding a post two or more scales below the pay scale of the vacant post, the administrative ministries are required to obtain approval of the ACC even for the initial six months of additional charge, it said.

"For all posts (whether of chief executive or otherwise), being filled with the approval of ACC, any extension in the approved tenure of the incumbent also requires approval of the ACC," the DoPT said in an order issued to secretaries of all central government ministries asking them to ensure its full compliance.