ACC nod mandatory for extending services of scientists: Govt

The services of government employees who are specialists in medical and scientific fields should not be extended beyond their normal age of superannuation without the approval of Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), the government said today.
The move comes after it was noticed by the ACC that the departments are not taking timely action to constitute the Departmental Peer Review Committee (DPRC) and are unilaterally extending the service of officers beyond the age of superannuation without first obtaining approval of the ACC.
It has also been observed that ministries or departments often submit proposals late as a result of which submission of cases for consideration of the ACC also gets delayed, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said in an order.

"All the scientific ministries or departments are hereby advised to take timely action for constitution of the DPRC for considering the cases for extension of service of specialists in medical or scientific fields, beyond the normal date of superannuation and ensure that proposals seeking approval of the ACC be invariably submitted at least two months in advance of the date of superannuation," it said.
In absence of specific approval of ACC towards extension of services beyond the date of superannuation, an officer should stand retired on his date of superannuation and under no circumstances should the ministry or department concerned extend his services unilaterally without the approval of ACC, the directive said.

The communique has been sent to departments of Atomic Energy, Space, Science & Technology, Biotechnology, Scientific & Industrial Research, Defence Research & Development, Information Technology and ministries of Environment & Forests, and Earth Sciences.
All government employees should retire after attaining 60 years of age. "But if any officer's services are being extended, then the concerned department must take ACC's approval," a DoPT official said.