Govt ends contract of consultants; sets up panel for new appt

The government has terminated the contracts of consultants from bilateral or multilateral agencies with effect from December 31, 2015, and decided to set up a screening committee to vet such appointments.
The Committee comprising of Cabinet Secretary, Economic Affairs Secretary and secretary of concerned department/ ministry has been constituted to "screen and approve all future proposals of engagement of consultants by the ministries/departments directly or through bilateral/ multilateral agencies," a finance ministry order said.
It was also decided not to renew any contract of such consultants beyond December 31, 2015, and the appointment of new consultants would be for a period of one year after approval of the Committee.

"No renewal beyond December 31, 2015 shall be granted to the existing consultants by the ministry/department unless approved by the Screening Committee," it said, adding the proposal for renewal of contract should be brought before the Committee within one month's time with justifiable reasons.
The consultant should not be engaged for policy formulation, the order said, noting "if assistance from consultants is considered necessary, their role should be limited to presentation and analysis of possible options with supporting data and best practices."
Engagement of consultants from bilateral partners/ multilateral agencies will have to be approved by the minister-in charge of the concerned ministry/department before the proposal is sent to the Screening Committee.

"Terms of Reference and procedure for the recruitment process should be transparent, robust and devoid of any ambiguity," the order said. "In case of foreign nationals being engaged as consultants, necessary security clearance from Ministry of Home Affair has to be obtained."

Also, two references from referees of repute will be needed.
"Consultants can be engaged for a tenure of one year at a time. Any extension beyond one year has to be approved by the Screening Committee afresh. An evaluation of the Consultant's performance has to be placed before the Screening Committee by the Ministry," the order said.
Maximum tenure of any consultant for a particular assignment cannot exceed 3 years in any case, it said, adding there would be a break or cooling off period of one year before the consultant can join another ministry or department.

Also, the consultant will have to sign a confidentiality clause with the government. "Ethics and integrity clause is also to be put in place in the contract."
The order said the arrangement to engage consultants should not become permanent and they should be hired for limited period and for specific purpose only.
Consultants shall not share data/information with the bilateral agency/multilateral agency or any person/institution outside the government without the specific approval of the Secretary of the Ministry/Department concerned, the order added.