DoPT pulls up ministries for delay in processing ACC cases

New Delhi: All central ministries have been asked to timely update vacancy positions in an electronic system meant for processing appointments done by the Prime Minister-led Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC). 

The AVMS — ACC Vacancy Monitoring System — was launched to facilitate monitoring of all appointments in Central Public Sector Enterprises, autonomous organisations, statutory and regulatory bodies as well as to various posts in ministries and departments. 

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) had in August last year written to all ministries and emphasised on the need to update the AVMS on a regular basis so as to ensure an effective and timely monitoring of vacancies at senior levels in the government. 

“A review undertaken recently reveals that the status of vacancies and the post details are, however, still not being updated on a regular basis,” the DoPT said in a directive issued to secretaries of all central government ministries. 

It has asked all ministries to send proposal for ACC at least two months in advance failing which the secretary of the ministry concerned will need to give “reasons for the delay”. 

“In case a proposal is not being submitted at least two months in advance of the date of vacancy or the additional charge arrangement coming to an end, a delay statement signed by the nodal officer with the approval of the concerned secretary to be enclosed with the proposal clearly bringing out in detail the reasons for the delay, the chronology of dates in processing the proposal at various stages, and the action being taken to ensure that such delays do not recur in future,” the DoPT said.

Each nodal officer will submit a monthly certificate on AVMS within the 7th of every month certifying that the position of posts pertaining to his ministry or department has been fully updated in all respects as on the last day of the previous month, it said. 

A certificate from the concerned Joint Secretary signing the proposal that the status of all posts being dealt by him has been updated on AVMS should also be accompanied while sending the proposal for the ACC, the DoPT said. 

The ACC is headed by the Prime Minister and has the Home Minister as its member. 

Any proposal submitted on or after May 1, 2015 which is not sent properly will not be entertained and be returned to the ministry for necessary compliance, it said.