Chandigarh to limit deputation tenure to 7 years; many in tight spot

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Advertisement

Chandigarh, February 2

Employees on extended deputation in Chandigarh are poised to face repatriation to their parent state as the UT Administration is going to introduce a new deputation policy.

The draft policy, recently approved by UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, will limit the deputation tenure to a maximum of seven years. With the implementation of the policy, a significant number of employees currently on deputation in various departments in the UT and have over stayed are expected to face departure from the city.

Teachers, doctors comprise major chunk

• Many teachers worked in UT for over 20 years; one lecturer completed 25 years; a TGT accumulated 29 years; two other teachers served in city for over three decades
• Among doctors, more than seven stationed here for 20 years; 17 others completed over 15 years; an SMO served 28 years in city; three doctors stayed for 25 years, 24 years and 21 years, respectively

Under the revised policy, employees can serve on deputation in Chandigarh initially for three years and subsequently, for a maximum of seven years. The stringent rules are aimed at addressing long deputations that have extended up to 10 or in some cases 20 years.

Following Purohit’s approval, the Administration has forwarded the policy to the Union Government for the final nod. Once approved, it would be promptly implemented, said a senior officer.

The policy is anticipated to impact deputation employees in crucial sectors like education and health under the UT Administration. Schools, colleges and the health department have a substantial workforce operating on deputation from neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab.

Sources said nearly 300 schoolteachers, including lecturers, TGTs (trained graduate teachers) and JBTs (junior basic teachers), have overstayed their deputation period in Chandigarh. The city has 690 teachers on deputation in government schools.

According to data, nearly 78 per cent of lecturers on deputation have exceeded their stay. Followed by 58 per cent of TGTs and 61 per cent of JBTs.

The UT’s deputation policy, dating back to 1993, allows employees on deputation to remain in the city for a maximum of five years before being repatriated to their parent state.

Some teachers have worked in the city for over 20 years. One lecturer had even completed 25 years in the UT. Another TGT, who started service in 1993, worked for 29 years in the city. In another instance, two teachers had served on deputation for over three decades.

In September last year, the UT Administration gave another extension to nearly 50 doctors who have been on deputation to city for over a decade. Among the doctors on deputation, more than seven were stationed here for 20 years, while 17 others completed over 15 years of service in the city. These doctors have been given extension till February 29, 2024, or till the joining of new incumbents.

A senior medical officer had been in the UT for 28 years, while three other doctors had been staying here for 25 years, 24 years and 21 years, respectively.