Government employees need not file asset details under Lokpal for now

New Delhi: The Centre has extended indefinitely the deadline to file details of assets and liabilities by central government employees under a mandatory provision of Lokpal Act. A new format and fresh set of rules are being finalised by the government in this regard. The last date for filing such details was 31 December. 

“There is no requirement for filing of declarations of assets and liabilities by public servants now. The government is in the process of finalising a fresh set of rules. The said rules will be notified in due course to prescribe the form, manner and timelines for filing of declaration of assets and liabilities by the public servants under the revised provision of the said (Lokpal) Act. “All public servants will henceforth be required to file the declarations as may be prescribed by the fresh set of rules,” an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said. 

There are about 50.68 lakh central government employees. As per rules, notified under the Lokpal Act, every public servant shall file declaration annually pertaining to his assets and liabilities as on 31 March every year or on or before 31 July of that year. 

For 2014, the last date for filing returns was 15 September. It was first extended till December, then till 30 April 2015 and third extension was up to 15 October. The date was again extended to 15 April 2016 and then 31 July for filing of the returns. The last date was further extended till 31 December after Parliament had passed a bill to amend the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. 

The declarations under the Lokpal law are in addition to similar ones filed by the employees under various services rules. The DoPT had last year also issued an order bringing NGOs receiving more than Rs one crore in government grants and donations above Rs10 lakh from abroad under the ambit of the Lokpal. The order had mandated filing of returns of the assets and liabilities by such organisations and their executives—director, manager, secretary or any other officer.

Source :  http://www.livemint.com/