Penalty of increments remains effective for a specific period

The Punjab government while taking notice of imposition of the penalty of withholding of increments upon delinquent officials by the competent authorities has asked the heads of administrative and subordinate departments to ensure that the penalty of withholding of increments is imposed by the competent authorities after considering all aspects of the case.
Official sources told Business Recorder that competent authorities have been empowered to impose one or more of the penalties provided under the Efficiency and Discipline Rules, PRSO, 2000 and Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006 (Peeda).
According to a circular issued by the regulations wing of S&GAD, the competent authorities are expected to be cautious enough while exercising powers vested in them under the Efficiency and Discipline Rules, PRSO, 2000 and Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006 in order to discipline the Government employees. However, it has been brought to the notice of the Government that the penalty of withholding of increments is sometimes imposed without considering all aspects of the case, especially when the employee is drawing pay at the maximum of his pay scale. In such a situation, the penalty of withholding of increments cannot be enforced, the sources said.
Moreover, the provincial government has made it clear that penalty of withholding of increments remains effective for a specific period and thereafter the withheld increments are restored. An employee may be at the fag end of his career and imposition of penalty of withholding of increments may cause undue hardship and eventually it may have a bearing upon his pension case. The competent authorities should, therefore, foresee that such a penalty expires well before the date of retirement, superannuation to save the employee from recurring loss.
The government has directed the competent authorities to ensure that the penalty of withholding of increments may be imposed after considering all aspects of the case, the sources claimed.