The Punjab Department of Water Resources (Technical Service) Subordinate Offices, Group 'B' Rules

GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES NOTIFICATION The 17th April, 2023

No. G.S.R.37/Const./Art.309/2023,- In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India and all other powers enabling him in this behalf, the Governor of Punjab is pleased to make the following rules, regulating the recruitment and conditions of Service of the persons appointed to the Punjab Department of Water Resources (Technical Service) Subordinate Offices, Group 'B' Service, namely:-

RULES

(1) These rules may be called the Punjab Department of Water Resources (Technical Service) Subordinate Offices, Group 'B' Rules, 2023. (2) They shall come into force on and with effect from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. (3) They shall apply to the posts specified in Appendix 'A'.

(1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) 'Administrative Secretary', wherever appearing in these rules, means the Special Chief Secretary or Additional Chief Secretary or Financial Commissioner or Principal Secretary or Secretary, whosoever is the administrative head of the Department; (b) 'Appendix' means an Appendix appended to these rules; (c) 'Chief Engineer' means the Chief Engineer of the Department of Water Resources, Punjab; (d) 'Government' means the Government of the State of Punjab in the Department Water Resources; and (e) 'Service' means the Punjab Department of Water Resources (Technical Service) Subordinate Offices, Group 'B' Service. (2) The words and expressions used, but not defined in these rules, shall have the same meaning as respectively assigned to them in the Punjab Civil Service (General and Common Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994.

The Service shall comprise the posts specified in Appendix 'A': Provided that nothing in these rules shall affect the inherent right of the Government to add to or reduce the number of such posts or to create new posts with different designations and scales of pay, whether permanently or temporarily.

Appointments to the Service shall be made by the Administrative Secretary.

The members of the Service shall be entitled to such scales of pay, as may be authorized by the Department of Finance, from time to time. The scales of pay, at present, in force in respect of the members of the Service, are given in Appendix 'A'.

(1) All appointments to the Service shall be made in the manner specified in Appendix 'B': Provided that if no suitable candidate is available for appointment to the Service by promotion or by direct appointment, the appointment to the Service shall be made by transfer of a person holding an analogous post under the State Government or Government of India. (2) No person shall be appointed to a post in the Service, unless he possesses the qualifications and experience as specified against that post in Appendix 'B': Provided further that in case of appointment to the post of Zilladar by way of direct recruitment, or otherwise, the aspirant before being appointed, should have undergone special training for a period not less than four months or as specified by the Government from time to time: Provided further also that in case of appointment to the post of Zilladar by way of promotion, such member of Service should have undergone special training for a period not less than four months or as specified by the Government from time to time. Till the completion of such training, the member of Service shall not be entitled to the annual increments. However, period of such training shall be reckoned towards the probation period of such appointee. (3) Appointment to the Service by promotion shall be made on seniority-cum-merit basis and no person shall have any right to claim promotion on the basis of seniority alone.

Every member of the Service, unless he has already done so, will have to pass departmental examination within a period of three years from the date of his initial appointment in accordance with the syllabi and guidelines framed by the Government from time to time and to be conducted by the Government or any other authority empowered by the Government in this behalf in addition to fulfilment of the requisite qualifications and experience as specified in Appendix 'B'. However, until a member of Service passes the Departmental examination, he shall not be entitled to get annual increments and his probation period shall not be cleared.

(1) In the matters of discipline, punishment and appeal, the members of the Service shall be governed by the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970, as amended from time to time. (2) The authority empowered to impose penalties as specified in rule 5 of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal), Rules, 1970 and the appellate authority there under in respect of the member of Service against an order as specified in the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970, shall be as per Appendix 'C'.

(1) In respect of the matters, which are not specifically provided in these rules, the members of the Service shall be governed by the provisions of the Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994, as amended from time to time. (2) The Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994, at present in force, are contained in Appendix 'D'.

Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, the Government or any other authority empowered in this behalf in addition to normal duties may assign the members of Service any kind of special duties or responsibilities to be specified from time to time in furtherance to enhance the efficiency of work.

The Punjab Public Works Department (Irrigation Branch), Zilladars' State Service, Class III, Rules, 1955 and the Punjab Irrigation Scientists (Class III) Service Rules, 2000, in so far as, these are applicable to the members of the Service are hereby repealed: Provided that any order issued or any action taken under the rules so repealed, shall be deemed to have been issued or taken under the corresponding provisions of these rules.

If any question arises as to the interpretation of these rules, the Government, in consultation with the Department of Personnel, shall decide the same.