Like IAS officers, HCS to file online performance appraisal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 11

The decision, which would be implemented from the current assessment year (2019-20), would help cut red-tape and fast-track promotions or any disciplinary action on the basis of the timely submission of reports, sources said, adding that it would also bring transparency in government functioning.

Hailing the decision, Jagdeep Dhanda, president of the HCS Officers’ Association, said it was a “welcome step” that would go a long way in time-bound submission of PARs/ACRs of the officers.

The state government asked the reporting and reviewing authorities to adhere to the deadlines while reporting the PARs/ACRs of the officers. “In case, the reporting/reviewing authorities failed to submit the PARs to the next authorities within the stipulated time, the nodal officers shall force forward the same directly to the next authorities and authorise them to initiate the PARs,” an order of the Chief Secretary said.

The process for writing of the PARs, which will be initiated on April 1 by the personnel department, will conclude on December 31. A special software has been devised with an in-built system of generating auto-alerts through SMS and email for the officers, reviewing reporting authorities. A strict “time schedule” would have to be adhered to by the authorities and any remark or comment after the deadline would not be allowed.

However, a relaxation has been made for political executives. They have been allowed to make remarks or grading manually after which the PARs/ACRs would be uploaded on the portal.

The grading of the officers would be done on the basis of overall qualities of the officers, including areas of strength, performance and attitudes towards weaker sections of society. The recommendations relating to domain assignment and overall grades in the scale of 1-10 will be recorded by the reporting and reviewing authorities, the order said.