Originally posted by : Dr. MPS RAMANI Ph.D.[Tech.]
I find two mutually contradictory statements by two learned advocates:By Sudhir Kumar Advocate:"While entering Govt service no empl;poymetn contract is signed by individual. The persons enter govt service on the terms and conditions already notified in gazette of India in exercise of powers conferred under provisio to article 309 of the constitution."By P Venu, Advocate"There are no rules of instructions having the force of law that an employee need to obtain the permission of the competent authority in order to pursue a course of study, that too, through the distance learning mode."What is the actual position? Article 309 states thus309. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Acts of the appropriate Legislature may regulate the recruitment, and conditions of service of persons appointed , to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of any State: Provided that it shall be competent for the President or such person as he may direct in the case of services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union, and for the Governor of a State or such person as he may direct in the case of services and posts in connection with the affairs of the State, to make rules regulating the recruitment, and conditions of service of persons appointed , to such services and posts until provision in this regard is made by or under an Act of the appropriate Legislature under this article, any rules so made shall have effect subject to the provisions of any such Act.The power to make rules is that of the legislatures: i.e. the Parliament in the case of Central Government servants and the State legislatures for the respective State Government servants.Pending appropriate legislations, in the interim, some functionaries appointed by the President or State Governor can make the rules.It is going to be 73 years since the Constitution was adopted. So far neither the parliament nor any of the State legislatures have found it necessary to pass any rules and the functionaries are merrily continuing to make rules according to their whims. Is this not unconstitutional and illegal?To the best of my knowledge there are no rules that require a Government Servant to take permission of the Government to pursue studies, so long as it does not interfere with his work. If there is a rule I shall be grateful to be enlightened. Even if there is a rule, such a rule would be unconstitutional for reasons stated by me.
Kindly update knowledge
(1) Joining of Educational Institutions by Government servants outside normal office hours.
It has been brought to the notice of this Ministry on behalf of Government servants belonging to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, that certain Ministries/Departments do not permit members of their staff belonging to these communities to join educational institutions outside the normal office hours.
2. As the Ministries are aware, it was proposed in this Ministry’s OM No. 25/27/52-Est., dated the 3rd May, 1952 (not reproduced) to issue general instruction on the subject. The replies received to that OM however revealed that while some Departments found that efficiency was suffering on account of Government servants attending a regular course of study for University Degree even outside office hours, a great majority of the Ministries was able to permit their employees to pursue such studies without detriment to official duties and that no serious problems had been created in most of the Departments by Government servants joining educational institutions. It was, therefore, not considered necessary to issue any specific instructions on the subject. Ordinarily there can be no objection to the pursuit of knowledge by Government servants in their leisure hours. But this must be subject to the condition that such pursuit does in no way detract from their efficiency. Wherever found necessary, the administrative authorities may require that Government servants under their control should take prior permission before joining educational institutions or courses of studies for University Degrees as the joining of educational institutions involves advance commitment about attendance at specific hours and absence from duty during periods of examinations. Ordinarily, permission is to be granted but with a view to summarily dealing with cases where it is noticed that the Government servant has been neglecting his duties for the sake of his studies, a condition may be attached saying that the permission may be withdrawn at any moment without assigning any reason. This will, of course, be without prejudice to any other departmental action being taken where mere withdrawal of the permission is not considered adequate.
3. Government servants belonging to the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes may be allowed to take full advantage of the educational facilities subject to the policy stated above.
4. These instructions have been issued with the concurrence of the Comptroller and Auditor General in so far as persons serving under him are concerned.
[MHA OM No. 130/54-Ests.(A), dated 26.02.1955.
let the poor querist not pay the price by falling into wrong advise.