Declaration of Assets and Liabilities under Lokpal Act – Time Extended as process of amending existing rules and framing the procedure yet to be completed
All Central Government Employees who are required to declared their assets under Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013, on or before 15.08.2014, get more time now to file necessary returns prescribed under the Lokpal
As per the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014 notified on 15.02.2014, a time period of 180 days from the date of coming into force of the provisions of the said Act i.e., 15.07.2014 has been allowed for modification or amendment of the relevant rules and also for framing of appropriate rules under section 44 of the Act.
Section 44 of the said Act also requires furnishing of information relating to assets and liabilities, existing employees within a period of 30 days from the date of coming into force of the Act.
Hence, as per above mentioned provisions, all Central Government Employees were required to file Declaration of assets and liabilities / Property Return under prescribed forms on or before 15.08.2014
Click here to read the earlier DOPT order dated 20.03.2014 for declaration of assets and liabilities Government Employees under Lokpal Act 2013
Click here to check what are all the properties to be declared and format of the declarations / Forms required to be filed
Now, DOPT issued order dated 14.07.2014 to extend the time of (180 days) permitted under Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 for the purpose of framing the rules and procedures and make necessary modifications in the existing rules for filing property returns, to 270 days. It is also mentioned in the said order that since the process of harmonization of the existing rules with the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 is likely to take time beyond the period notified, it was proposed to extend the time.
[TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE OF INDIA, EXTRAORDINARY, PART II, SECTION 3, SUB-SECTION (ii) OF DATED THE 14TH JULY, 2014]
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING
ORDER
New Delhi, the 14th July, 2014.
S.O.________(E).- Whereas the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 62 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014), made the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014 with effect from the 15th February, 2014 for the purpose of carrying out modification and amendments in all existing rules regulating the filing of property returns and making of declaration of assets by public servants so as to bring them in conformity with the provisions of the said Act, within a period not exceeding one hundred and eighty days from the date on which the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 came into force, i.e., on the 16th day of January, 2014;
And whereas the Central Government has initiated the process of modification/amendment of all existing rules dealing with the subject matter of filing of annual returns and making of declaration of assets by public servants in consultation with various authorities, such as, the Comptroller and Auditor General in India, the Election Commission of India, the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, the Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Department), the Department of Financial Services, the Department of Public Enterprises and the State Governments;
And whereas the comments/suggestions received from various above said authorities are under consideration of the Central Government and the completion of the procedure of finalizing the rules under the said Act is likely to take some more times;
And whereas the process of harmonization of the existing rules with the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 and the rules made thereunder is likely to take time beyond the period notified under the said Order, it will be necessary to extend the said period of one hundred and eighty days to a period of two hundred and seventy days, and the Central Government has accordingly decided to extend the period to complete this process and to notify the amendment rules after following the procedural requirements;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 62 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014), the Central Government hereby makes the following amendment in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014, namely:-
In the said Order, in paragraph 2, in sub-paragraph (1), for the words “within a period not exceeding one hundred and eighty days”, the words “within a period not exceeding two hundred and seventy days” shall be substituted.
[ No.407/12/2014-AVD-IV(B)]
Sd/-
[P.K. DAS]
Joint Secretary to the Government of India
Note.( Click here to read the earlier DOPT order dated 20.03.2014 )—The Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014 was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, vide notification number S.O. 409(E), dated 15th February, 2014.
Download DOPT order 407/12/2014-AVD-IV(B) dated 14.07.2014
