By Tajdar H Zaidi
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a new deadline of February 15 for its employees to declare their movable and immovable properties. Failure to comply may result in employees being denied promotions as per the regular timeline, along with possible disciplinary actions.
Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, in a letter addressed to key officials, revealed that out of 8,31,844 eligible employees, only 5,93,873 (71%) have submitted their property declarations so far. The rule applies to government officers and employees of autonomous institutions, undertakings, and corporations, all of whom are required to submit their details on the Manav Sampada portal, an ICT-based platform for personnel management.
Previous Deadlines and Compliance Issues
Initially, the deadline for submitting asset declarations was set for December 31, 2024, but it was later extended by a month. Despite this extension, a review meeting on February 1 found that many employees had not complied with the directive.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
The letter warns that employees who fail to submit their property details may face the following consequences:
- Denial of Promotions: Employees will not be considered for promotions as per their natural timeline.
- Administrative Actions: Disciplinary measures under the UP Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999 will be initiated.
Penalties under these rules are categorized as:
- Minor penalties: Censure, withholding of increments, fines, and recovery of pay.
- Major penalties: Withholding increments with cumulative effects, demotion, or even dismissal from service.
Government’s Stance
The chief secretary’s letter called the non-submission of property details “regrettable” and a direct violation of government orders. It urged departments to not only ensure compliance but also verify the details uploaded on the portal.
This is not the first instance of such non-compliance. Employees were previously reprimanded for failing to declare their assets for the 2023-24 financial year, though punitive actions, such as withholding salaries, were not enforced at the time.
The directive underscores the state government’s resolve to maintain transparency and accountability among its workforce.