ACP cases: Powers shift from DEO to DDO

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 22

A training for officials and clerical staff deputed at DDO offices, was held at the DEO office here today, as per which the clerical staff held a session regarding the filling of ACP and confirmation cases for the teachers and employees of the district today.

While this is the first time that DDOs (Drawing and Disbursing Officers) have been delegated with the task to address queries and applications regarding ACP cases, these were earlier being sent directly to DEOs. However, a letter released by the education secretary on July 20, handed over the task to DDOs for the first time. The ACP cases are cases wherein the annual increments of education department teachers are cleared by the DEOs.

As per the letter released on July 20 —The power to confirm employees has been delegated to DDOs (Drawing and Disbursing Officers). But due to less information among office employees regarding ACP cases and confirmation cases, various questions are being asked from these officials.

Therefore, it has been decided that the superintendent, dealing assistant and section officers deputed at the District Education Officer (SE) and DEO (EE) shall provide information regarding all ACP and confirmation cases to their district to their Block Education Officers, school principals and school heads. They shall also share details regarding the process and means to decide these cases.

While so far the cases had been cleared by the DEOs, the handing over of the cases to the DDOs (which in most cases are the school principals themselves) has brought cheer amongst the department employees. A reference regarding this was also made by education secretary Krishan Kumar during the EDUSAT address to teachers earlier this month, wherein he had promised the quick and hassle-free disbursal of ACP cases without complicated documentation as was earlier the norm.

A teacher said, “There is no doubt the process is much more smoother and better this time. Earlier, it took months and now we are being promised the process shall be completed within a month. But there is still some ambiguity about those whose vases were due for promotions in 2013 and 2014. While as per norms there should have been a three per cent hike in their salaries from the time their three, four or nine years in the Education Department were completed (making them eligible for increments), so far there is no word in any of the letters regarding the pendency of these cases.”

While so far the cases had been cleared by the DEOs, the handing over of the cases to the DDOs (which in most cases are the school principals themselves) has brought cheer amongst the department employees. A reference regarding this was also made by education secretary Krishan Kumar during the EDUSAT address to teachers earlier this month, wherein he had promised the quick and hassle-free disbursal of ACP cases without complicated documentation as was earlier the norm

.