Centre Drives Surplus Staff Redeployment To Optimise Utilisation

In the memorandum, a copy of which is with The Secretariat, the DoPT said, “It has been observed that in the process of redeployment, surplus technical staff often face a significantly longer waiting period owing to the limited number of requisitions received for technical posts.”

It, however, went on to add that in contrast, non-technical posts “are reported with greater regularity”, resulting in relatively quicker redeployment of non-technical surplus staff. 

“This variance between the two… has resulted in bottlenecks in their redeployment, leading to a slower pace in the case of non-technical surplus employees. It is important to ensure that the pace of redeployment remains comparable between the two categories to maintain fairness and optimise resource utilisation,” the DoPT said in the circular.

The DoPT has also advised ministries and departments that they should consider “surplus technical personnel for redeployment against non-technical vacancies reported to each of their ‘surplus cells’", adding that the decision has already been “duly approved by the competent authority, which would positively impact the redeployment efforts of such surplus employees". 

The DoPT, however, also said, “…While effecting such redeployment… in the matching of technical surplus staff to non-technical posts, only those should be considered who possess the requisite qualifications and/or skills. This approach ensures that redeployment is undertaken fruitfully and punctiliously, in a manner that respects both administrative intent and operational integrity.”

Since the advisory pertains only to non-gazetted surplus staff, the DoPT said due care should be given to seniority, subject to eligibility, while redeploying technical personnel on non-technical posts. 

According to the circular, the redeployment is governed by the Central Civil Services (Redeployment of Surplus Staff) Rules, 1990, which mandates expeditious staffing to avoid underutilisation and undue financial burden on the exchequer. 

While it is difficult to gauge the exact number of surplus staff in the central government, a recent report of the Expenditure Reforms Commission identified around 42,200 employees in the category. Subsequently, 12,200 posts were earmarked for abolition, said officials in the know, adding that a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) was introduced to address this surplus. However, the number of employees who opted for it isn't "encouraging". 

‘Surplus staff’ refers to permanent or long-term temporary employees who have been rendered surplus due to organisational restructuring, technological advancements, or other administrative reforms.

All central ministries and departments have been asked to communicate this decision to their attached/subordinate offices, directorates, and field offices functioning under their administrative control, for necessary action.