I&B Ministry issued orders to hold salary of Employees who did not complete online training courses
On Monday, November 18, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an order to withhold the salaries of officials who have not obtained certificates for completing mandatory courses under the Government of India’s ‘Mission Karmayogi’ initiative.
What is Mission Karmayogi?
Mission Karmayogi, officially known as the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB), was launched in September 2020 by the Narendra Modi-led government. The initiative aims to enhance the skills of civil servants through digital learning via the iGOT Karmayogi Bharat platform. This platform offers courses on topics like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and big data analysis, among others.
Official Directive to Withhold Salaries
An office memorandum, signed by Rakesh Sharma, Senior Accounts Officer, and approved by the Secretary of the Ministry, directed all Pay and Accounts Offices (PAOs) to process salaries only for those officials who have completed the mandatory courses.
The memorandum stated:
“All PAOs of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting are directed to take reference of the above-mentioned OMs to clear the salary bills of only those officials who have been certified by the DDO/HoO regarding their completion of mandatory iGOT courses. In other cases, where certificates are not provided, salary bills may be kept on hold until further orders.”
Reactions from Officials
A central government employee, speaking anonymously, criticized the move as “absurd” and “shocking.” The employee highlighted that even suspended officials or those under disciplinary action typically receive 50% of their salary every month.
“How can they withhold an entire month’s salary just for not attending a course?” the official questioned, emphasizing that many officers are already burdened with work and find it challenging to complete these courses promptly.
Ministry’s Response
When approached, a senior official in the Ministry stated:
“I don’t want to comment much. The order has been confirmed by the Secretary, but it hasn’t been implemented yet. We will know its impact only when November salaries are processed at the end of the month.”
The implementation of this directive is now being closely watched by government officials and departments.
Employees’ Association Challenges Order on Withholding Salaries
Following the issuance of the memorandum on Monday, the Association of Akashvani and Doordarshan Engineering Employees addressed a letter to Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, raising concerns over the implementation of the directive.
Lack of Awareness About iGOT Training
The association pointed out that earlier instructions regarding mandatory iGOT training had not been effectively communicated to employees. “A majority of our employees are not aware of such mandatory instructions,” the letter stated.
Constitutional Concerns Over Salary Withholding
The association emphasized that withholding salaries violates constitutional protections under Article 300A, which defines salary as a form of property.
“Salary of an employee, therefore, cannot be withheld except for cogent reasons. In the absence of lawful justification, the government cannot stop salaries,” the letter argued.
The association urged the Secretary to reconsider the directive and take appropriate corrective measures, adding that withholding salaries is an unjustified and improper approach.
Ministry Responds to Concerns
A ministry official, speaking anonymously, acknowledged the issue as a miscommunication and clarified the intent of the directive. “The objective was to get an update on which officers haven’t onboarded the iGOT platform. Salaries cannot be stopped like this,” the official said.
The situation has highlighted procedural gaps in communicating and implementing government orders, sparking demands for better coordination and clarity in directives.
