The state government has finally initiated disciplinary proceedings against the employees at various levels to avoid the lag between actual violation/irregularity and framing of charges.
The government has swiftly suspended several staff members from service while filing cases against hundreds of others, following orders issued to set time limits for disciplinary action to be taken. “A total of about 500 employees are suspended. More than 1,200 are facing disciplinary action,” a senior official told The Hindu.
Steps have been initiated to collect information related to cases that have remained pending for long, although sources said several hundred files recommending disciplinary action against erring employees have been awaiting approval from higher-ups for several months. The development follows orders issued in August (GO Ms 175 dated 21 August) recommending deadlines for the completion of disciplinary proceedings.
Provisions of the Telangana Civil Services (Classification, Review and Appeal) Rules, 1991 (Telangana Amendment Orders, 2016) and the Andhra Pradesh Revised Pension Rules, 1980 (Telangana Amendment Orders, 2016) empower the government to initiate action, including criminal proceedings, by filing a charge sheet in court.
Time and again, instructions are issued to expeditiously complete the investigation, where departmental action is initiated to punish the culprits. However, it was found that the processing of files related to disciplinary cases at various levels takes a considerable amount of time.
The process is so delayed that in many cases the accused officer has retired from service or the charges are framed on the verge of retirement, sometimes resulting in the civil servant escaping punishment. The compliance order was issued in line with one of the main demands of the employee unions, who insisted that the government appoint a committee to expedite the investigation of the time-bound cases so that they can be absorbed at the earliest.
Published – 17 Dec 2025 0:13 IST
