Below Benchmark Gradings of ACRs to be Objectively Considered
PRIOR to reporting period 2008-09, only adverse remarks in the ACRs had to be communicated to the officer concerned for representation, if any to be considered by the competent authority. The question of treating the grading in ACR which is below the benchmark for next promotion has been considered in DoPT and it has been decided that if an employee is to be considered for promotion in a future DPC and his ACRs prior to the period 2008-09 which would be reckonable for assessment of his fitness in such future DPCs contain final grading which are below the benchmark for his next promotion, before such ACRs are placed before the DPC, the concerned employee will be given a copy of the relevant ACR for his representation, if any, within 15 days of such communication. It may be noted that only below benchmark ACRs for the period relevant to promotion need be sent. There is no need to send below benchmark ACRs of other years.
The UPSC has informed DoPT that the Commission has observed that while deciding such representations, the competent authorities sometimes do not take into account the views of Reporting/Reviewing Officers if they are still in service.
All Ministries/Departments are therefore requested to inform the competent authorities while forwarding such cases to them to decide on the representations against the remarks or for upgradation of the grading in the APAR that the decision on the representation may be taken objectively after taking into account the views of the concerned Reporting/Reviewing Officers if they are still in service and in case of upgradation of the final grading given in the APAR, specific reasons therefore may also be given in the order of the competent authority.