Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh —
The Haryana Government has issued important instructions to streamline the process of stepping-up the pay/ACP level of senior employees to that of their juniors. Alongside this, the Government has also clarified the position regarding Note 5 under Rule 19.1 of PFR Volume-1 related to the re-delegation of financial powers.
Two separate letters regarding this matter have been issued by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, who also holds the additional charge of Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department. The Finance Department has clarified that as per the instructions issued on December 20, 2024, the pay/ACP level of a senior employee can be stepped-up to match that of a junior employee only if the senior is eligible for ACP under the HCS (ACP) Rules, 2016. However, if the junior employee is drawing higher pay due to personal reasons, stepping-up will not be admissible.
It has been observed that instead of examining such cases on their own, departments are forwarding them to the Finance Department. Therefore, all departments have been directed to scrutinize such matters at their own level and send only those cases—with full details—which do not fall within the scope of the above instructions.
Additionally, the Finance Department has issued a detailed clarification regarding Note 5 under Rule 19.1 of PFR Volume-1. According to the communication issued by the Department, it has come to notice that some Heads of Departments are re-delegating their financial powers to field officers, which is contrary to the rules. Administrative departments may delegate these powers only to gazetted officers working within their department, such as Secretaries, Joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, or SAS-cadre officers. Similarly, Heads of Departments may re-delegate these powers only to gazetted officers within their own office, such as Additional Directors, Joint Directors, Deputy Directors, etc.
Administrative Secretaries cannot, under any circumstances, re-delegate their financial powers to Heads of Departments, and Heads of Departments cannot re-delegate their financial powers to field officers or office heads.