Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965

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This document details the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, outlining procedures for appointments, suspensions, disciplinary actions, penalties, appeals, and reviews concerning government servants. It establishes classifications for civil services and posts, defines key terms, and specifies the authorities responsible for various actions. The rules cover aspects like initiating disciplinary proceedings, conducting inquiries, imposing penalties, and the process for appeals and reviews. It also addresses transitory provisions and repeals previous regulations, aiming to provide a comprehensive framework for managing the civil service.

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EXTRAORDINARY

भाग II—सप्त 3—उपसप्त (ii)

PART II—Section 3-Sub-section (ii)
प्राधिकार से प्रकोशत
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

सं० 296] मई दिल्ली, दुघवार, मथरबर 24, 1965/सप्ताग्रण 3, 1887

No. 296] NEW DELHI, W 1UNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1965/A GPAHAYANA 3, 1887

इस भाग मेे भिन्न वृध्द संख्या ही जाती है- जिससे कि यह अजय संकलन के रूप मेे रखा जा सके।
Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a/ separate compilation.

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

NOTIFICATION

New/ Delhi, the 20th November 1965
S.O. 3703.-In exercise of the powers conferred by proviso to article 309 and clause (5) of article 148 of the Constitution and after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General in relation to persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, the President hereby makes the following rules, namely:-
THE CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICES (CLASSIFICATION, CONTROL AND APPEAL) RULES, 1965
Part 1-General

  1. Short title and commencement.-(1) These Rules may be called the Central Civil Service (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965.
    (2) They shall come into force on the 1st December, 1965.
  2. Interpretation.-In these rules, unless the context otherwise, requires,-
    (a) ‘appointing authority’ in relation to a Government servant means-
    (i) the authority empowered to make appointments to the Service of which the Gtvernment servant is for the time being a member or

to the grade of the Service in which the Government servant is for the time being included, or
(ii) the authority empowered to make appointments to the post which the Government servant for the time being holds, or
(iii) the authority which appointed the Government servant to such Service, grade or post, as the case may be, or
(iv) where the Government servant having been a permanent member of any other Service or having substantively held any other permanent post, has been in continuous employment of the Government. the authority which appointed him to that Service or to any grade in that Service or to that post,
whichever authority is the highest authority.
(b) ‘cadre authority’, in relation to a Service, has the same meaning as in the rules regulating that Service;
(c) “Central Civil Service and Central Civil post” includes a civilian Service or civilian post, as the case may be, of the corresponding class in the Defence Services;
(d) ‘Commission’ means the Union Public Service Commission;
(e) ‘Defence Services’ means services under the Government of India in the Ministry of Defence, paid out of the Defence Services Estimates, and not subject to the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), the Navy Act, 1957 ( 62 of 1957) and the Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950);
(f) ‘Department of the Government of India’ means any establishment or organisation declared by the President by a notification in the official Gazette to be a department of the Government of India;
(g) ‘disciplinary authority’ means the authority competent under these rules to impose on a-Government servant any of the penalties specified in rule 11;
(h) “Government servant” means a person who-
(i) is a member of a Service or holds a civil post under the Union, and includes any such person on foreign service or whose services are temporarily placed at the disposal of a State Government, or a local or other authority;
(ii) is a member of a Service or holds a civil post under a State Government and whose services are temporarily placed at the disposal of the Central Government;
(iii) is in the service of a local or other authority and whose services are temporarily placed at the disposal of the Central Government.
(i) ‘head of the department’, for the purpose of exercising the powers as appointing, disciplinary, appellate or reviewing authority, means the authority declared to be the head of the department under the Fundamental and Supplementary Rules or the Civil Service Regulations, as the case may be;
(j) ‘head of the office’, for the purpose of exercising the powers as appointing, disciplinary, appellate or reviewing authority, means the authority declared to be the head of the office under the General Financial Rules;
(k) ‘Scheduly’ means the Schedule to these rules;
(1) ‘Secretary’ means a Secretary to the Government of India in any Ministry or Department, and includes-
(i) a Special Secretary or an Additional Secretary,
(ii) a Joint Secretary placed in independent charge of a Ministry or Department,
(iii) in relation to the Cabinet Secretariat, the Secretary to the Cabinet,
(iv) in relation to the President’s Secretariat, the Secretary to the President, or, as the case may be, the Military Secretary to the President;
(v) in relation to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the Secretary to the Prime Minister, and
(vi) in relation to the Planning Commission, the Secretary to the Planning Commission.
(m) ‘Service’ means a civil service of the Union


  1. Application.-(1) These rules shall apply to every Government servant Including every civilian Government servant in the Defence Services, but shall not apply to-
    (a) any railway servant, as defined in rule 102 of Volume I of the Indian Railway Establishment Code,
    (b) any member of the All India Services.
    (c) any person in casual employment,
    (d) any person subject to discharge from service on less than one month’s notice,
    (e) any person for whom special provision is made, in respect of matters covered by these rules, by or under any law for the time being in force or by or under any agreement entered into by or with the previous approval of the President before or after the commencement of these rules, in regard to matters covered by such special provisions;
    (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), the President may by order exclude any class of Government servants from the operation of all or any of these rules.
    (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), or the Indian Railway Establishment Code, these rules shall apply to every Government servant temporarily transferred to a Service or post coming within exception (a) or (e) in subrule (1), to whom, but for such transfer, these rules would apply.
    (4) If any doubt arises-
    (a) whether these rules or any of them apply to any person, or
    (b) whether any person to whom these rules apply belongs to a particular Service,
    the matter shall be referred to the President, who shall decide the same.

Part II-Classification

  1. Classification of Services-(1) The civil Services of the Union shall be classified as follows:-
    (i) Central Civil Services, Class I;
    (ii) Central Civil Services, Class II;
    (iii) Central Civil Services, Class III;
    (iv) Central Civil Services, Class IV.
    (2) If a Service consists of more than one grade, different grades of such Service may be included in different classes.
  2. Constitution of Central Civil Services.-The Central Civil Services, Class I, Class II, Class III and Class IV shall consist of the Services and grades of Services specified in the Schedule.
  3. Classification of posts.-(1) Civil posts under the Union other than those ordinarily held by persons to whom these rules do not apply, shall by a general or special order of the President, be classified as follows:-
    (i) Central Civil Posts, Class I;
    (ii) Central Civil Posts, Class II;
    (iii) Central Civil Posts, Class III;
    (iv) Central Civil Posts, Class IV.
    (2) Any order made by the competent authority, and in force immediately before the commencement of these rules, relating to classification of civil posts under the Union shall continue to be in force until altered, rescinded or amended by an order made by the President under sub-rule (1).
  4. General Central Service.-Central Civil posts of any class not included in any other Central Civil Service shall be deemed to be included in the General Central Service of the corresponding class and a Government servant appointed to any such post shall be deemed to be a member of that Service unless he is already a member of any other Central Civil Service of the same class.

Part III—Appointing Authority

  1. Appointments to Class I Services and Posts.—All appointments to Central Civil Services, Class I, and Central Civil Posts, Class I shall be made by the President:

Provided that the President may, by a general or a special order and subject to such conditions as he may specify in such order, delegate to any other authority the power to make such appointments.

  1. Appointments to other Services and Posts.—(1) All appointments to the Central Civil Services (other than the General Central Service) Class II, Class III, and Class IV shall be made by the authorities specified in this behalf in the Schedule.

(2) All appointments to Central Civil Posts, Class II, Class III, and Class IV, included in the General Central Service shall be made by the authorities specified in that behalf by a general or special order of the President, or, where no such order has been made, by the authorities specified in this behalf in the Schedule.

Part IV—Suspension

  1. (1) The appointing authority or any authority to which it is subordinate or the disciplinary authority or any other authority empowered in that behalf by the President by general or special order, may place a Government servant under suspension—

(a) where a disciplinary proceeding against him is contemplated or is pending, or

(b) where a case against him in respect of any criminal offence is under investigation, inquiry or trial:

Provided that, except in case of an order of suspension made by the Comptroller and Auditor-General in regard to a member of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service and in regard to an Assistant Accountant General or equivalent (other than a regular member of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service), where the order of suspension is made by an authority lower than the appointing authority, such authority shall forthwith report to the appointing authority the circumstances in which the order was made.

(2) A Government servant shall be deemed to have been placed under suspension by an order of appointing authority—

(a) with effect from the date of his detention, if he is detained in custody, whether on a criminal charge or otherwise, for a period exceeding forty-eight hours;

(b) with effect from the date of his conviction, if, in the event of a conviction for an offence, he is sentenced to a term of imprisonment exceeding forty-eight hours and is not forthwith dismissed or removed or compulsorily retired consequent to such conviction.

Explanation.—The period of forty-eight hours referred to in clause (b) of this sub-rule shall be computed from the commencement of the imprisonment after the conviction and for this purpose, intermittent periods of imprisonment, if any, shall be taken into account.

(3) Where a penalty of dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement from service imposed upon a Government servant under suspension is set aside in appeal or one review under these rules and the case is remitted for further inquiry or action or with any other directions, the order of his suspension shall be deemed to have continued in force on and from the date of the original order of dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement and shall remain in force until further orders.

(4) Where a penalty of dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement from service imposed upon a Government servant is set aside or declared or rendered void in consequence of or by a decision of a court of law and the disciplinary authority, on a consideration of the circumstances of the case, decides to hold a further inquiry against him on the allegations on which the penalty of dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement was originally imposed, the Government servant shall be deemed to have been placed under suspension by the Appointing Authority from the date of the original order of dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement and shall continue to remain under suspension until further orders.


(5) (a) An order of suspension made or deemed to have been made under this rule shall continue to remain in force until it is modified or revoked by the authority competent to do so.
(b) Where a Government servant is suspended or is deemed to have been suspended, (whether in connection with any disciplinary proceeding or otherwise), and any other disciplinary proceeding is commenced against him during the continuance of that suspension the authority competent to place him under suspension may, for reasons to be recorded by him in writing, direct that the Government servant shall continue to be under suspension until the termination of all or any of such proceedings.
(c) An order of suspension made or deemed to have been made under this rule may at any time be modified or revoked by the authority which made or is deemed to have made the order or by any authority to which that authority is subordinate.

Part V-Penalties and Disciplinary Authorities

  1. Penaltics-The following penalties may; for good and sufficient reasons and as hereinafter provided, be imposed on a Government servant, namely:-

Minor Penalties:
(i) Censure;
(ii) Withholding of his promotion;
(iii) recovery from his pay of the whole or part of any pecuniary loss caused by him to the Government by negligence or breach of orders;
(iv) withholding of increments of pay;

Major Penalties:

(v) reduction to a lower stage in the time-scale of pay for a specified period, with further directions as to whether or not the Government servant will earn increments of pay during the period of such reduction and whether on the expiry of such period, the reduction will or will not have the effect of postponing the future increments of his pay;
(vi) reduction to a lower time-scale of pay, grade, post or Service which shall ordinarily be a bar to the promotion of the Government servant to the time-scale of pay, grade, post or Service from which he was reduced, with or without further directions regarding conditions of restoration to the grade or post or Service from which the Government servant was reduced and his seniority an dpay on such restoration to that grade, post or Service:
(vii) compulsory retirement;
(viii) removal from service which shall not be a llspualiveation for future employment under the Government;
(ix) dismissal from service which shall ordinarily be a disqualification for future employment under the Government.
Explanation.-The following shall not amounted to a penalty within the meaning of this rule, namely:-
(i) withholding of increments of pay of a Government servant for his failure to pass any departmental examination in accordance with the rules or orders governing the Service to which he belongs or post which he holds or the terms of his appointment;
(ii) stoppage of a Government servant at the efficiency bar in the timescale of pay on the ground of his unfitness to cross the bar;
(iii) non-promotion of a Government servant, whether in a substantive or officiating capacity, after consideration of his case, to a Service, grade or post for promotion to which he is eligible;
(iv) reversion of a Government servant officiating in a higher Service, grade, or post to a lower Service, grade or post, on the ground that he is considered to be unsuitable for such higher Service, grade or post or on any administrative ground unconnected with his conduct;
(v) reversion of a Government servant, appointed on probation to any other Service, grade or post, to his permanent Service, grade or post during or at the end of the period of probation in accordance with the terms of his appointment or the rules and orders governing such probation;


(vi) replacement of the services of a Government servant, whose services had been borrowed from a State Government or an authority under the control of a State Government, at the disposal of the State Government or the authority from which the services of such Government servant had been borrowed;
(vii) compulsory retirement of a Government servant in accordance with the provisions relating to his superannuation or retirement;
(viii) termination of the services-
(a) of a Government servant appointed on probation, during or at the end of the period of his probation, in accordance with the terms of his appointment or the rules and orders governing such probation; or
(b) of a temporary Government servant in accordance with the provisions of sub-rule (1) of rule 5 of the Central Civil Services (Temporary Service) Rules, 1965; or
(c) of a Government servant, employed under an agreement, in accordance with the terms of such agreement.
12. Disciplinary Authorities.-(1) The President may impose any of the penalties specified in rule 11 on any Government servant.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-rule (1), but subject to the provisions of sub-rule (4), any of the penalties specified in rule 11 may be imposed on-
(a) a member of a Central Civil Service other than the General Central Service, by the appointing authority or the authority specified in the Schedule in this behalf or by any other authority empowered in this behalf by a general or special order of the President;
(b) a person appointed to a Central Civil Post included in the General Central Service, by the authority specified in this behalf by a gencral or special order of the President or, where no such order has been made, by the appointing authority or the authority specified in the Schedule in this behalf.
(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-rule (4), the power to impose any of the penalties specified in rule 11 may also be exercised, in the case of a member of a Central Civil Service, Class III (other than the Central Secretariat Clerical Service), or a Central Civil Service, Class IV,-
(a) it he is serving in a Ministry or Department of the Government of India, by the Secretary to the Government of India, in that Ministry or Department, or
(b) it he is serving in any other office, by the head of that office, except where the head of that office is lower in rank than the authority competent to impose the penalty under sub-rule (2).
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this rule,-
(a) except where the penalty specified in clause (v) or clause (vi) of rule 11 is imposed by the Comptroller and Auditor General on a member of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service, no penalty specified in clauses (v) to (ix) of that rule shall be imposed by any authority subordinate to the appointing authority;
(b) where a Government servant who is a member of a Service other than the General Central Service or who has been substantively appointed to any civil post in the General Central Service, is temporarily appointed to any other Service or post, the authority competent to impose on such Government servant any of the penalties specified in clauses (v) to (ix) of rule 11 shall not impose any such penalties unless it has consulted such authority, not being an authority subordinate to it, as would have been competent under sub-rule (2) to impose on the Government servant any of the said penalties had he not been appointed to such other Service or post.

Explanation.-Where a Government servant belonging to a Service or holding a Central Civil post of any class, is promoted, whether on probation or temporarily to the Service or Central civil post of the next higher class, he shall be deemed for the purposes of this rule to belong to the Service of, or hold the Central Civil post of, such higher class.


  1. Authority to institute proceedings.-(1) The President or any other authority empowered by him by general or special order may-
    (a) institute disciplinary proceedings against any Government servant;
    (b) direct a disciplinary authority to institute disciplinary proceedings against any Government servant on whom that disciplinary authority is competent to impose under these rules any of the penalties specified in rule 11 .
    (2) A disciplinary authority competent under these rules to impose any of the penalties specified in clauses (i) to (iv) of rule 11 may institute disciplinary proceedings against any Government servant for the imposition of any of the penalties specified in clauses (v) to (ix) of rule 11 notwithstanding that such disciplinary authority is not competent under these rules to impose any of the latter penalties.

Part VI-Procedure for imposing Penalties

  1. Procedure for imposing major penalties.-(1) No order imposing any of the penalties specified in clauses (v) to (ix) of rule 11 shall be made except after an inquiry held, as far as may be, in the manner provided in this rule and rule 15. or in the manner provided by the Public Servants (Inquiries) Act, 1850 ( 37 of 1850), where such inquiry is held under that Act.
    (2) Whenever the disciplinary authority is of the opinion that there are grounds for inquiring into the truth of any imputation of misconduct or misbehaviour against a Government servant, it may itself inquire into, or appoint under this rule or under the provisions of the Public Servants (Inquiries) Act. 1850, as the case may be, an authority to inquire into the truth thereof.

Explanation.-Where the disciplinary authority itself holds the inquiry, any reference in sub-rule (7) to sub-rule (20) and in sub-rule (22) to the inquiring authority shall be construed as a reference to the disciplinary authority.
(3) Where it is proposed to hold an inquiry against a Government servant under this rule and rule 15, the disciplinary authority shall draw up or cause to be drawn up-
(i) the substance of the imputations of misconduct or misbehaviour into definite and distinct articles of charge;
(ii) a statement of the imputations of misconduct or misbehaviour in support of each article of charge, which shall contain-
(a) a statement of all relevant facts including any admission or confession made by the Government servant;
(b) a list of documents by which, and a list of witnesses by whom, the articles of charge are proposed to be sustained.
(4) The disciplinary authority shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Government servant a copy of the articles of charge, the statement of the imputations of misconduct or misbehaviour and a list of documents and witnesses by which each article of charges is proposed to be sustained and shall require the Government servant to submit, within such time as may be specified, a written statement of his defence and to state whether he desires to be heard in person.
(5) (a) On receipt of the written statement of defence, the disciplinary authority may itself inquire into such of the articles of charge as are not admitted, or, if it considers it necessary so to do, appoint, under sub-rule (2), an inquiring authority for the purpose, and where all the articles of charge have been admitted by the Government servant in his written statement of defence, the disciplinary authority shall record its findings on each charge after taking such evidence as it may think fit and shall act in the manner laid down in rule 15.
(b) If no written statement of defence is submitted by the Government servant, the disciplinary authority may itself inquire into the articles of charge or may, if it considers it necessary to do so, appoint, under sub-rule (2), an inquiring authority for the purpose.
(c) Where the disciplinary authority itself inquires into any article of charge or appoints an inquiring authority for holding an inquiry into such charge, it may, by an order, appoint a Government servant or a legal practitioner, to be known as the “Presenting Officer” to present on its behalf the case in support of the articles of charge.


(6) The disciplinary authority shall, where it is not the inquiring authority, forward to the inquiring authority-
(i) a copy of the articles of charge and the statement of the imputations of misconduct or misbehaviour;.
(ii) a copy of the written statement of defence, if any, submitted by the Government servant;
(iii) a copy of the statements of witnesses, if any, referred to in sub-rule (3);
(iv) evidence proving the delivery of the documents referred to in sub-rule (3) to the Government servant; and
(v) a copy of the order appointing the “Presenting Officer”.
(7) The Government servant shall appear in person before the inquiring authority on such day and at such time within ten working days from the date of receipt by him of the articles of charge and the statement of the imputations of misconduct or misbehaviour, as the inquiring authority may, by a notice in writing, specify in this behalf, or within such further time, not exceeding ten days, as the inquiring authority may allow.
(8) The Government servant may take the assistance of any other Government servant to present the case on his behalf, but may not engage a legal practitioner for the purpose unless the Presenting Officer appointed by the disciplinary authority is a legal practitioner, or, the disciplinary authority, having regard to the circumstances of the case, so permits.
(9) If the Government servant who has not admitted any of the articles of charge in his written statement of defence or has not submitted any written statement of defence, appears before the inquiring authority, such authority shall ask him whether he is guilty or has any defence to make and if he pleads guilty to any of the articles of charge, the inquiring authority shall record the plea, sign the record and obtain the signature of the Government servant thereon.
(10) The inquiring authority shall return a finding of guilt in respect of those articles of charge to which the Government servant pleads guilty.
(11) The inquiring authority shall, if the Government servant fails to appear within the specified time or refuses or omits to plead, require the Presenting Officer to produce the evidence by which he proposes to prove the articles of charge, and shall adjourn the case to a later date not exceeding thirty days, after recording an order that the Government servant may, for the purpose of preparing his defence
(i) inspect within five days of the order or within such further time not exceeding five days as the inquiring authority may allow, the documents specified in the list referred to in sub-rule (3);
(ii) submit a list of witnesses to be examined on his behalf;

Note-If the Government servant applies orally or in writing for the supply of copies of the statements of witnesses mentioned in the list referred to in sub-rule (3), the inquiring authority shall furnish him with such copies as early as possible and in any case not later than three days before the commencement of the examination of the witnesses on behalf of the disciplinary authority.
(iii) give a notice within ten days of the order or within such further time not exceeding ten days as the inquiring authority may allow, for the discovery or production of any documents which are in the possession of Government but not mentioned in the list referred to in sub-rule (3).

Note-The Government servant shall indicate the relevance of the documents required by him to be discovered or produced by the Government.
(12) The inquiring authority shall, on receipt of the notice for the discovery or production of documents, forward the same or copies thereof to the authority in whose custody or possession the documents are kept, with a requisition for the production of the document by such date as may be specified in such requisition:

Provided that the inquiring authority may, for reasons to be recorded by it in writing, refuse to requisition such of the documents as are, in its opinion, not relevant to the case.


(13) On receipt of the requisition referred to in sub-rule (12), every authority having the custody or possession of the requisitioned documents shall produce the same before the inquiring authority

Provided that if the authority having the custody or possession of the requisitioned documents is satisfied for reasons to be recorded by it in writing that the production of all or any of such documents would be against the public interest or security of the State, it shall inform the inquiring authority accordingly and the inquiring authority shall, on being so informed communicate the information to the Government servant and withdraw the requisition made by it for the production or discovery of such documents

(14) On the date fixed for the inquiry, the oral and documentary evidence by which the articles of charge are proposed to be proved shall be produced by or on behalf of the disciplinary authority. The witnesses shall be examined by or on behalf of the Presenting Officer and may be cross examined by or on behalf of the Government servant. The Presenting Officer shall be entitled to re-examine the witnesses on any points on which they have been cross-examined but not on any new matter, without the leave of the inquiring authority. The inquiring authority may also put such questions to the witnesses as it thinks fit.

(15) If it shall appear necessary before the close of the case on behalf of the disciplinary authority, the inquiring authority may, in its discretion, allow the Presenting Officer to produce evidence not included in the list given to the Government servant or may itself call for new evidence or recall and re-examine any witness and in such case the Government servant shall be entitled to have, if he demands it, a copy of the list of further evidence proposed to be produced and an adjournment of the inquiry for three clear days before the production of such new evidence, exclusive of the day of adjournment and the day to which the inquiry is adjourned. The inquiring authority shall give the Government servant an opportunity of inspecting such documents before they are taken on the record. The inquiring authority may also allow the Government servant to produce new evidence, if it is of the opinion that the production of such evidence is necessary in the interests of justice.

Note—New evidence shall not be permitted or called for or any witness shall not be recalled to fill up any gap in the evidence. Such evidence may be called for only when there is an inherent lacuna or defect in the evidence which has been produced originally.

(16) When the case for the disciplinary authority is closed, the Government servant shall be required to state his defence, orally or in writing, as he may prefer. If the defence is made orally, it shall be recorded and the Government servant shall be required to sign the record. In either case, a copy of the statement of defence shall be given to the Presenting Officer, if any, appointed.

(17) The evidence on behalf of the Government servant shall then be produced. The Government servant may examine himself in his own behalf if he so prefers. The witnesses produced by the Government servant shall then be examined and shall be liable to cross-examination, re-examination and examination by the inquiring authority according to the provisions applicable to the witnesses for the disciplinary authority.

(18) The inquiring authority may, after the Government servant closes his case, and shall, if the Government servant has not examined himself, generally question him on the circumstances appearing against him in the evidence for the purpose of enabling the Government servant to explain any circumstances appearing in the evidence against him.

(19) The inquiring authority may, after the completion of the production of evidence, hear the Presenting Officer, if any, appointed, and the Government servant, or permit them to file written briefs of their respective case, if they so desire.

(20) If the Government servant to whom a copy of the articles of charge has been delivered, does not submit the written statement of defence on or before the date specified for the purpose or does not appear in person before the inquiring authority or otherwise fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of this rule, the inquiring authority may hold the inquiry ex-parte.

(21) (a) Where a disciplinary authority competent to impose any of the penalties specified in clauses (i) to (iv) of rule 11 (but not competent to impose any of the penalties specified in clauses (v) to (ix) of rule 11), has itself inquired into or caused to be inquired into the articles of any charge and that authority,


having regard to its own findings or having regard to its decision on any of the findings of any inquiring authority appointed by it, is of the opinion that the penalties specified in clauses (v) to (ix) of rule 11 should be imposed on the Government servant, that authority shall forward the records of the inquiry to such disciplinary authority as is competent to impose the last mentioned penalties.
(b) The disciplinary authority to which the records are so forwarded may act on the evidence on the record or may, if it is of the opinion that further examination of any of the witnesses is necessary in the interests of justice, recall the witness and examine, cross-examine and re-examine the witness and may impose on the Government servant such penalty as it may deem fit in accordance with these rules.
(22) Whenever any inquiry authority, after having heard and recorded the whole or any part of the evidence in an inquiry ceases to exercise jurisdiction therein, and is succeeded by another inquiring authority which has, and which exercises, such jurisdiction, the inquiring authority so succeeding may act on the evidence so recorded by its predecessor, or partly recorded by its predecessor and partly recorded by itself:

Provided that if the succeeding inquiry authority is of the opinion that further examination of any of the witnesses whose evidence has already been recorded is necessary in the interests of justice, it may recall, examine, cross-examine and re-examine any such witnesses as hereinbefore provided.
(23) (i) After the conclusion of the inquiry, a report shall be prepared and it shall contain-
(a) the articles of charge and the statement of the imputations of misconduct or misbehaviour;
(b) the defence of the Government servant in respect of each article of charge;
(c) an ajsesment of the evidence in respect of each article of charge;
(d) the findings on each article of charge and the reasons therefor.

Explanation.-If in the opinion of the inquiring authority the proceedings of the inquiry establish any article of charge different from the original articles of the charge, it may record its findings on such article of charge:

Provided that the findings on such article of charge shall not be recorded unless the Government servant has either admitted the facts on which such article of charge is based or has had a reasonable opportunity of defending himself against such article of charge.
(ii) The inquiring authority, where it is not itself the disciplinary authority, shall forward to the disciplinary authority the records of inquiry which shall include-
(a) the report prepared by it under clause (i);
(b) the written statement of defence, if any, submitted by the Government servant;
(c) the oral and documentary evidence produced in the course of the inquiry;
(d) written briefs, if any, filed by the presenting Officer or the Government servant or both during the course of the inquiry; and
(e) the orders, if any, made by the disciplinary authority and the inquiring authority in regard to the inquiry.
15. Action on the inquiry report-(1) The disciplinary authority, if it is not itself the inquiring authority may, for reasons to be recorded by it in writing, remit the case to the inquiring authority for further inquiry and report and the inquiring authority shall thereupon proceed to hold the further inquiry according to the provisions of rule 14 as far as may be.
(2) The disciplinary authority shall, if it disagrees with the findings of the inquiring authority on any article of charge, record its reasons for such disagreement and record its own findings on such charge, if the evidence on record is sufficient for the purpose.
(3) If the disciplinary authority having regard to its findings on all or any of the articles of charge is of the opinion that any of the penalties specified in clauses (i) to (iv) of rule 11 should be imposed on the Government servant, it


shall, notwithstanding anything contained in rule 16 , make an order imposing such penalty:

Provided that in every case where it is necessary to consult the Commission, the record of the inquiry shall be forwarded by the disciplinary authority to the Commission for its advice and such advice shall be taken into consideration before making any order imposing any penalty on the Government servant.
(4) (i) If the disciplinary authority having regard to its findings on all or any of the articles of charge, is of the opinion that any of the penalties specified in clauses (v) to (ix) of rule 11 should be imposed on the Government servant, it shall-
(a) furnish to the Government servant a copy of the report of the inquiry held by it and its findings on each article of charge, or, where the inquiry has been held by an inquiring authority, appointed by it, a copy of the rionrt of such authority and a statement of its findings on each article of charge together with brief reasons for its disagreement, if any, with the findings of the inquiring authority;
(b) give the Government servant a notice stating the penalty proposed to be imposed on him and calling upon him to submit within fifteen days of receipt of the notice or such further time not exceeding fifteen days, as may be allowed, such representation as he may wish to make on the proposed penalty on the basis of the evidence adduced during the inquiry held under rule 14 ;
(ii) (a) In every case in which it is necessary to consult the Commission, the record of the inquiry, together with a copy of the notice given under clause (i) and the representation made in pursuance of such notice, if any, shall be forwarded by the disciplinary authority to the Commission for its advice.
(b) The disciplinary authority shall after considering the representation, if any, made by the Government servant, and the advice given by the Commission, determine what penalty, if any, should be imposed on the Government servant and make such order as it may deem fit.
(iii) Where it is not necessary to consult the Commission the disciplinary authority shall consider the representation, if any, made by the Government servant in pursuance of the notice given to him under clause (i) and determine what penalty, if any, should be imposed on him and make such order as it may deem fit.
16. Procedure for imposing minor penalties.-(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-rule (3) of rule 15 , no order imposing on a Government servant any of the panaltles specified in clauses (i) to (iv) of rule 11 shall be made except after-
(a) informing the Government servant in writing of the proposal to take action against him and of the imputations of misconduct or misbehaviour on which it is proposed to be taken, and giving him a reasonable opportunity of making such representation as he may wish to make against the proposal;
(b) holding an inquiry in the manner laid down in sub-rules (3) to (23) of rule 14 , in every case in which the disciplinary authority is of the opinion that such inquiry is necessary;
(c) taking the representation, if any, submitted by the Government servant under clause (a) and the record of inquiry, if any, held under clause (b) into consideration;
(d) recording a finding on each imputation of misconduct or misbehaviour; and
(e) consulting the Commission where such consultation is necessary.
‘(2) The record of the proceedings in such cases shall include-
(i) a copy of the intimation to the Government servant of the proposal to take action against him;
(ii) a copy of the statement of imputations of misconduct or misbehaviour delivered to him;
(iii) his representation, if any;
(iv) the evidence produced during the inquiry;
(v) the advice of the Commission, if any;
‘(vi) the findings on each imputation of misconduct or misbehaviour; and
(vii) the orders on the case together with the reasons therefor.


  1. Communication of orders-Orders made by the disciplinary authority shall be communicated to the Government servant who shall also be supplied with a copy of the report of the inquiry, if any, held by the disciplinary authority and a copy of its findings on each article of charge, or, where the disciplinary authority is not the inquiring authority, a copy of the report of the inquiring authority and a statement of the findings of the disciplinary authority together with brief reasons for its disagreement, if any, with the findings of the inquiring authority (unless they have already been supplied to him) and also a copy of the advice, if any, given by the Commission and, where the disciplinary authority, has not accepted the advice of the Commission, a brief statement of the reasons for such non-acceptance.
  2. Common Proceedings.-(1) Where two or more Government servants are concerned in any case, the President or any other authority competent to impose the penalty of dismissal from service on all such Government servants may make an order directing that disciplinary action against all of them may be taken in a common procceding.

Note.-If the authorities competent to impose the penalty of dismissal on such Government servants are different, an order for taking disciplinary action in a common proceeding may be made by the highest of such authorities with the consent of the others.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-rule (4) of rule 12, any such order shall specify-
(i) the authority which may function as the disciplinary authority for the purpose of such common proceeding;
(ii) the penalties specified in rule 11 which such disciplinary authority shall be competent to impose;
(iii) whether the procedure laid down in rule 14 and rule 15 or rule 16 shall be followed in the proceeding.
19. Special procedure in certain cases.-Notwithstanding anything contained in rule 14 to rule 18 –
(i) where any penalty is imposed on a Government servant on the ground of conduct which has led to his conviction on a criminal charge, or
(ii) where the disciplinary authority is satisfied for reasons to be recorded by it in writing that it is not reasonably practicable to hold an inquiry in the manner provided in these rules, or
(iii) where the President is satisfied that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold any inquiry in the manner provided in these rules, the disciplinary authority may consider the circumstances of the case and make such orders thereon as it deems fit:
Provided that the Commission shall be consulted, where such consultation is necessary, before any orders are made in any case under this rule.
20. Provisions regarding officers lent to State Governments etc.-(1) Where the services of a Government servant are lent by one department to another department or to a State Government or an authority subordinate thereto or to a local or other authority (hereinafter in this rule referred to as “the borrowing authority”), the borrowing authority shall have the powers of the appointing authority for the purpose of placing such Government servant under suspension and of the disciplinary authority for the purpose of conducting a disciplinary proceeding against him:

Provided that the borrowing authority shall forthwith inform the authority which lent the services of the Government servant (hereinafter in this rule referred to as “the lending authority”) of the circumstances leading to the order of suspension of such Government servant or the commencement of the disciplinary proceeding, as the case may be.
(2) In the light of the findings in the disciplinary proceeding conducted against the Government servant-
(i) if the borrowing authority is of the opinion that any of the penalties specified in clauses (i) to (iv) of rule 11 should be imposed on the Government servant, it may, after consultation with the. lending authority, make such orders on the case as it deems necessary:


Provided that in the event of a difference of opinion between the borrowing authority and the lending authority, the services of the Government servant shall be replaced at the disposal of the lending authority;
(ii) if the borrowing authority is of the opinion that any of the penalties specified in clauses (v) to (ix) of rule 11 should be imposed on the Government servant, it shall replace his services at the disposal of the lending authority and transmit to it the proceedings of the inquiry and thereupon the lending authority may, if it is the disciplinary authority, pass such orders thereon as it may deem necessary, or, if it is not the disciplinary authority, submit the case to the disciplinary authority which shall pass such orders on the case as it may deem necessary:

Provided that before passing any such order the disciplinary authority shall comply with the provisions of sub-rules (3) and (4) or rule 15.
Explanation.-The disciplinary authority may make an order under this clause on the record of the inquiry transmitted to it by the borrowing authority, or after holding surh further inquiry as it may deem necessary, as far as may be, in accordance with rule 14.
21. Provisions regarding officers borrowed from State Governments etc.-(1) Where an order of suspension is made or a disciplinary proceeding is conducted against a Government servant whose services have been borrowed by one department from another department or from a State Government or an authority subordinate thereto or a local or other authority, the authority lending his services (hereinafter in this rule referred to as “the lending authority”) shall forthwith be informed of the circumstances leading to the order of the suspension of the Government servant or of the commencement of the disciplinary proceedIng, as the case may be.
(2) In the light of the findings in the disciplinary proceeding conducted against the Government servant if the disciplinary authority is of the opinion that any of the penalties specified in clauses (i) to (iv) of rule 11 should be imposed on him, it may, subject to the provisions of sub-rule (3) of rule 15 and except in regard to a Government servant serving in the Intelligence Bureau upto the rank of Assistant Central Intelligence Officer, after consultation with the lending authority, pass such orders on the case as it may deem necessary:
(i) provided that in the event of a difference of opinion between the borrowing authority and the lending authority the services of the Government servant shall be replaced at the disposal of the lending authority;
(ii) if the disciplinary authority is of the opinion that any of the penalties specified in clauses (v) to (ix) of rule 11 should be imposed on the Government servant, it shall replace the services of such Government servant at the disposal of the lending authority and transmit to it the proceedings of the inquiry for such action as it may deem necessary.

Part VII-Appeals

  1. Orders against which an appeal lies.-Notwithstanding anything contained in this Part, no appeal shall lie against-
    (i) any order made by the President;
    (ii) any order of an interlocutory nature or of the nature of a step-in-aid or the final disposal of a disciplinary proceeding, other than an order of suspension;
    (iii) any order passed by an inquiring authority in the course of an inquiry under rule 14.
  2. Orders against which appeal lies.-Subject to the provisions of rule 22, a Government servant may prefer an appeal against all or any of the following orders, namely:-
    (i) an order of suspension made or deemed to have been made under rule 10 ;
    (ii) an order imposing any of the penalties specified in rule 11 whether made by the disciplinary authority or by any appellate or reviewing authority;

(iii) an order enhancing any penalty, imposed under rule 11:
(iv) an order which-
(a) denies or varies to his disadvantage his pay, allowances, pension or other conditions of service as regulated by rules or by agreement; or
(b) interprets to his disadvantage the provisions of any such rule or agreement;
(v) an order-
(a) stopping him at the efficiency bar in the time scale of pay on the ground of his unfitness to cross the bar;
(b) reverting him while officiating in a higher Service, grade or post to a lower Service, grade or post, otherwise than as a penalty;
(c) reducing or withholding the pension or denying the maximum pensipln admissible to him under the rules;
(d) determining the subsistence and other allowances to be paid to him for the period of suspension or for the period during which he is deemed to be under suspension or for any portion thereof;
(e) determining his pay and allowances-
(i) for the period of suspension, or
(ii) for the period from the date of his dismissal, removal, or compulsory retirement from service, or from the date of his reduction to a lower Service, grade, post, time-scale or stage in a time scale of pay, to the date of his reinstatement or restoration of his service, grade or post, or
(f) determining whether or not the period from the date of his suspension or from the date of his dismissal, removal, compulsory retirement or reduction to a lower service, grade, post, time scale of pay or stage in a time scale of pay to the date of his re-instatement or restoration to his service, grade or post shall be treated as a period spent on duty for any purpose.
Explanation.-In this rule-
(i) the expression ‘Government servant’ includes a person who has ceased to be in Government service;
(ii) the expression ‘pension’ includes additional pension, gratuity and any other retirement benefit.
24. Appellate Authorities.-(1) A Government servant, including a person who has ceased to be in Government service, may prefer an appeal against all or any of the orders specified in rule 23 to the authority specified in this behalf either in the Schedule or by a general or special order of the President or, where no such authority is specified,-
(i) where such Government servant is or was a member of a Central Civil Service, Class I or Class II or holder of a Central Civil post, Class I or Class II,-
(a) to the appointing authority, where the order appealed against is made by an authority subordinate to it; or
(b) to the President, where such order is made by any other authority;
(ii) where such Government servant is or was a member of a Central Civil Service, Class III or Class IV or holder of a Central Civil Post, Class III or Class IV, to the authority to which the authority making this order appealed against is immediately subordinate.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1),
(i) an appeal against an order in a common proceeding held under rule 18 shall lie to the authority to which the authority functioning as the disciplinary authority for the purpose of that proceeding is immediately subordinate;
(ii) where the person who made the order appealed against becomes, by virtue of his subsequent appointment or otherwise, the appellate authority in respect of such order, an appeal against such order shall lie to the authority to which such person is immediately subor. dinate.


  1. Period of limitation for appeals. – No appeal preferred under this Part shall be entertained unless such appeal is preferred within a period of forty-five cays from the date on which a copy of the order appealed against is delivered to the appellant:

Provided that the appellate authority may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period, if it is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient cause fo: not preferring the appeal in time.
26. Form and contents of appeal.-(1) Every person preferring an appeal shall do so separately and in his own name.
(2) The appeal shall be presented to the authority to whom the appeal lies, a copy being forwarded by the appellant to the authority which made the order appealed against. It shall contain all material statements and arguments on which the appellant relies, shall not contain any disrespectful or improper language, and shall be complete in itself.
(3) The authority which made the order appealed against shall on receipt of a copy of the appeal, forward the same with its comments thereon together with the relevant records to the appellate authority without any avoidable delay, and without waiting for any direction from the appellate authority.
27. Consideration of appeal.-(1) In the case of an appeal against an order of suspension, the appellate authority shall consider whether in the light of the provisions of rule 10 and having regard to the circumstances of the case, the order of suspension is justified or not and confirm or revoke the order accordingly.
(2) In the case of an appeal against an order imposing any of the penalties specified in rule 11 or enhancing any penalty imposed under the said rule, the appellate authority shall consider-
(a) where the procedure laid down in these rules has been complied with, and if not, whether such non-compliance has resulted in the violation of any provisions of the Constitution of India or in the failure of justice;
(b) whether the findings of the disciplinary authority are warranted by the evidence on the record; and
(c) whether the penalty or the enhanced penalty imposed is adequate, inadequate or severe;
and pass orders-
(i) confirming, enhancing, reducing, or setting aside the penalty; or
(ii) remitting the case to the authority which imposed or enhanced the penalty or to any other authority with such direction as it may deem fit in the circumstances of the case:
provided that-
(i) the Commission shall be consulted in all cases where such consultation is necessary;
(ii) if the enhanced penalty which the appellate authority proposes to impose is one of the penalties specified in clauses (v) to (ix) of rule 11 and an inquiry under rule 14 has not already been held in the case, the appellate authority shall, subject to the provisions of rule 19, itself hold such inquiry or direct that such inquiry be held in accordance with the provisions of rule 14 and thereafter, on a consideration of the proceedings of such inquiry and after giving the appellant a reasonable opportunity, as far as may be in accordance with the provisions of sub-rule (4) of rule 15, of making a representation against the penalty proposed on the basis of the evidence adduced during such inquiry, make such orders as it may deem fit;
(iii) if the enhanced penalty which the appellate authority proposes to impose is one of the penalties specified in clauses (v) to (ix) of rule 11 and an inquiry under rule 14 has already been held in the case, the appellate authority shall, after giving the appellant a reasonable opportunity, as far as may be in accordance with the provisions of sub-rule (4) of rule 15, of making a representation against the penalty proposed on the basis of the evidence adduced during the inquiry, make such orders as it may deem fit; and


(iv) no order imposing an enhanced penalty shall be made in any other case unless the appellant has been given a reasonable opportunity, as far as may be in accordance with the provisions of rule 16, of making a representation against such enhanced penalty.
(3) In an appeal against any other order specified in rule 23, the appellate authority shall consider all the circumstances of the case and make such orders as it may deem just and equitable.
28. Implementation of orders in appeal.-The authority which made the order appealed against shall give effect to the orders passed by the appellate authority.

Part VIII-Review

  1. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules,-
    (i) the President, or
    (ii) the Comptroller and Auditor General, in the case of a Government servant serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, or
    (iii) the Hosts and Telegraphs Board, in the case of a Government servant serving in or under the Posts and Telegraphs Board, or
    (iv) the head of a department directly under the Central Government, in the case of a Government servant serving in a department or office, (not being the Secretariat or the Posts and Telegraphs Board), under the control of such head of a department, or
    (v) the appellate authority, within six months of the date of the order proposed to be reviewed, or
    (vi) any other authority specified in this behalf by the President by a general or special order, and within such time as may be prescribed in such general or special order;
    may at any time, either on his or its own motion or otherwise call for the records of any inquiry and review any order made under these rules or under the rules repealed by rule 34 from which an appeal is allowed but from which no appeal has been preferred or from which no appeal is allowed, after consultation with the Commission where such consultation is necessary, and may-
    (a) confirm, modify or set aside the order; or
    (b) confirm, reduce, enhance or set aside the penalty imposed by the order, or impose any penalty where no penalty has been imposed; or
    (c) remit the case to the authority which made the order or to any other authority directing such authority to make such further inquiry as it may consider proper in the circumstances of the case; or
    (d) pass such other orders as it may deem fit:

Provided that no order imposing or enhancing any penalty shall be made ty any reviewing authority unless the Government servant concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of making a representation against the penalty proposed and where it is proposed to impose any of the penalties specified in clauses (v) to (ix) of rule 11 or to enhance the penalty imposed by the order sought to be rereviewed to any of the penalties specified in those clauses, no such penalty shall be imposed except after an inquiry in the mannr laid down in rule 14 and after giving a reasonable opportunity to the Government servant concerned of showing cause against the penalty proposed on the evidence adduced during the inquiry and except after consultation with the Commission where such consultation is necessary:

Provided further that no power of review shall be exercised by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Posts and Telegraphs Board or the head of department, as the case may be, unless-
(i) the authority which made the order in appeal, or
(ii) the authority to which an appeal would lie, where no appeal has been preferred, is subordinate to him.
(2) No proceeding for review shall be commenced until after:-
(i) the expiry of the period of limitation for an appeal, or
(ii) the disposal of the appeal, where any such appeal has been preferred.


(3) An application for review shall be dealt with in the same manner as if it were an appeal under these rules.

Part IX-Miscellaneous

  1. Service of orders, notices etc.-Every order, notice and other process made or issued under these rules shall be served in person on the Government servant concerned or communicated to him by registered post.
  2. Power to relax time-limit and to condone delay.-Save as otherwise expressly provided in these rules, the authority competent under these rules to make any order may, for good and sufficient reasons or if sufficient cause is shown, extend the time specified in these rules for anything required to be done under those rules or condone any delay.
  3. Supply of copy of Commission’s advice.-Whenever the Commission is consulted as provided in thes rules, a copy of the advice by the Commission and, where such advice has not been accepted. also a brief statement of the reasons for such non-acceptance, shall be furnished to the Government servant concerned along with a copy of the order passed in the case, by the authority making the order.
  4. Transitory provisions.-On and from the commencement of these rules and until the publication of the Schedules under these rules, the Schedules to the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957, and the Civilians in Defence Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1952, as amended from time to time, shall be deemed to be the Schedules relating to the respective categories of Government servants to whom they are, immediately before the commencement of these rules, applicable, and such Schedules shall be deemed to be the Schedules referred to in the corresponding rules of these rules.
  5. Repeal and Saving.-Subject to the provisions of rule 33, the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957 and the Civilians in Defence Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1952, and any notifications or orders issued thereunder in so far as they are inconsistent with these rules, are hereby repealed:

Provided that-
(a) such repeal shall not affect the previous operation of the said rules, or any notification or order made, or anything done, or any action taken. thereunder;
(b) any proceedings under the said rules, pending at the commencement of these rules shall be continued and disposed of as far may be, in accordance with the provisions of these rules, as if such proceedings were proceedings under these rules.
(2) Nothing in these rules shall be construed as depriving any person to whom these rules apoly. of any right of appeal which had accrued to him under the rules, notification or orders in force before the commencement of these rules.
(3) An appeal pending at the commencement of these rules against an order made before such commencement shall be considered and orders thereon shall be made, in accordance with these rules, as if such order were made and the appeal were preferred under these rules.
(4) As from the commencement of these rules any appeal or application for review against any orders made before such commencement shall be preferred or made under these rules, as if such orders were made under these rules:

Provided that nothing in these rules shall be construed as reducing any period of limitation for any appeal or review provided by any rule in force before the commencement of these rules.
35. Removal of doubts.-If any doubt arises as to the interpretation of any of the provisions of these rules, the matter shall be referred to the President or such other authority as may be specified by the President by a general or special order, and the President or such other authority shall decide the same.
[No. F. 7/2/63-Ests.(A).]
P. K. DAVE, Jt. Secy.