By IANS,
Lucknow: Nearly 500 officers belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) appeared to be in a fix Tuesday over declaration of their assets.
No more than four officers have come forward to furnish details of their assets so far, even though barely 24 hours were left for the prescribed April 20 deadline by the union government’s department of personnel .
As per a circulation issued by the department, all IAS officers across the country were required to furnish details of the immovable assets held by them and their immediate family latest by April 20.
In an unprecedented move, the union government has also decided to put such details in the public domain.
“I do not think anybody can avoid declaration of his assets for very long as the government was also planning to hold back promotions of officers who do not adhere to the new rule,” said a senior IAS officer here.
While the All India Service Rules (1968) have always contained the provision for annual declaration of assets by officers belonging to all Group ‘A’ services, including the IAS, there was no restriction on promotions in case of default by any officer.
With effect from this year, however, the department of personnel had decided not to promote officers beyond the joint secretary level if they fail to submit their annual returns of immovable property, the officer pointed out.