Return of Assets and Liabilities – forms and periodicity.
Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 – Rule 18 – Return of Assets and Liabilities – forms and periodicity.
Under Rule 18 (1) of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, read with Note III thereto, every Government servant shall on his first appointment to any service or post and thereafter at such intervals as may be specified by the Government, submit a return of his assets and liabilities in such form as may be prescribed by the Government giving the full particulars as indicated in that rule. The forms in which the said return should be furnished, and its periodicity have been notified in the Order No. 25/7/65-Estt. (A) dated 6th January, 1973, a copy of which has been endorsed to the various Ministries/Departments separately.
2. The return of assets and liabilities in the prescribed forms is required to be submitted by only Class I Class II and Class III (Group A, Group B and Group C) officers, excepting those to whom the provisions of sub-rules (1), (2) and (3) of rule 18 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, do not apply by virtue of the second proviso to sub-rule (3) of rule 18. Government servants in Class IV (Group D) services and posts are not required to submit these returns by virtue of Note I below rule 18 (1).
3. As regards Government servants in Class III (Group C) services/posts, the Head of the Department may recommend to Ministry/Department concerned for the exclusion of any specified categories of such employees from the requirement of furnishing the return, in pursuance of sub-rule (5) of Rule 18, if the nature of work of such employees justifies the exemption. The Ministry/Department to whom the recommendation is made would take a decision thereon with the concurrence of he Cabinet Secretariat, Department of Personnel; in regard to such employees working in a Ministry/Department itself, a decision thereon could similarly be taken by it in consultation with the Department of Personnel.
4. The first return on the prescribed form will be as on 31st December, 1972, in respect of Government servants who are already in service and should be submitted by them by the 31st March, 1973, even if they have already submitted the return of immovable property for the year 1972 under the earlier orders. The subsequent returns will be as on 31st December, 1977, 31st December, 1982 and so on and will be submitted by the 31st March of the succeeding year. As regards persons appointed to services/posts after the date of issue of the Order, they will submit their first return as on the date of appointment within three months of their appointment. The second and subsequent returns will be submitted by them as on the crucial date for those who are already in service subject, however, to the proviso to sub-clause (i) of clause (b) of the Orders referred to in para 1 above.
5. The return will be submitted by the Government servants to the prescribed authority through the Administration Wing of the Ministry/Department Office in which the Government servant is for the time being serving. On receipt of the return, it would be scrutinized with reference to sanctions/report etc., already on record and thereafter forwarded with such remarks as may be necessary in the light of the scrutiny through the Vigilance Officers of the Ministry/Department/Office to the prescribed authority. The prescribed authority on receipt of the return and the remarks thereon will make such further scrutiny and also take such further action as may be necessary and will retain the returns in its custody.
6. It will be the responsibility of the prescribed authority to ensure that the returns in respect of all the officers are received by the due date and are properly scrutinized and kept on record. As regards officers on deputation, the prescribed authority in the parent department will be responsible for obtaining, scrutinizing and keeping the returns on record.
[Cabinet Sectt., Department of Personnel OM No. 25/7/65-Ests.(A), dated 8th January, 1973]
Pending a further review of the question of submission of the return of Assets and Liabilities by Government servants as prescribed in this Department’s order No. 25/7/65-Ests.(A), dated the 6th January, 1973 (at 17) the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-rule (1) of rule 18 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and all other powers enabling it in this behalf, directs that action in pursuance of the aforesaid order be held in abeyance until further orders.
(19) Action be held in abeyance
[Cabinet Sectt., DP&AR OM No. 25/7/65-Ests.(A), dated 4th July, 1973]