Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers (Group A And B Posts) Service Rules, 2024

[10 February 2024]

S.R.O. 6.-In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution and in supersession of the Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers' (Group 'A' and 'B' posts) Service Rules, 2004, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the President hereby makes the following rules, namely: -

Rule 1.Short title and commencement:-

(1)     These rules may be called the Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers (Group A and B Posts) Service Rules, 2024.

(2)     They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

Rule 2. Definitions :-

In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a)      "appointing authority" in relation to any grade means the authority empowered under the Central Civil Service (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, to make appointments to the grades mentioned in rule 3;

(b)      "authorised strength" in relation to any Grade means the number of posts in that Grade against which appointments are being made on regular basis;

(c)      "Commission" means the Union Public Service Commission;

(d)      "direct recruit" means a person recruited to the grade of Personal Assistant on the basis of competitive examination held by the Staff Selection Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down;

(e)      "duty post" in relation to any grade means a post of that grade included in the Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers Service;

(f)       "eligible officer" means an officer eligible to be considered for promotion to the post of Executive Principal Private Secretary, Senior Principal Private Secretary, Principal Private Secretary, Private Secretary and Personal Assistant as the case may be in accordance with rule 6 and 7 of these rules;

(g)      "Field of Selection" in relation to any grade means zone of consideration which shall be determined in accordance with the instructions of Government issued from time to time;

(h)     "Government" means the Government of India;

(i)       "grade" means any of the grades specified in rule 3;

(j)       "Other Backward Classes" means the castes or communities notified by the Government from time to time for the purpose of reservation in civil services and posts in the Government of India;

(k)      "Schedule" means a Schedule appended to these rules;

(l)       "select list" in relation to the Executive Principal Private Secretary, Senior Principal Private Secretary, Principal Private Secretary, Private Secretary and Personal Assistant means the select list prepared for promotion to the respective grades to fill the existing and anticipated vacancies likely to occur during the calendar year from the 1st day of January to 31st day of December of the year;

(m)    "Service" means the Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers Service;

(n)     "Temporary Officer" in relation to any grade means a person holding a temporary or officiating appointment in that grade in accordance with relevant provision of these rules or an officer appointed to a grade who is yet to be removed from probation.

(o)      "years of approved service" in relation to any grade means,-

(i)       in respect of an officer recruited directly to that grade, period or periods of regular service rendered in that grade, including period or periods of absence during which he would have held a post on regular basis in that grade but for his being on leave or otherwise not being available to hold such post, from the first day of January of the year, following the year of the examination for which direct recruitment was held;

(ii)      in respect of an officer recruited to that grade through departmental examination, period or periods of regular service rendered in that grade, including period or periods of absence during which he would have held a post on regular basis in that grade but for his being on leave or otherwise not being available to hold such post, from the first day of January of the year for which such examination was held; and

(iii)     in respect of an officer recruited to that grade on the basis of length of service in the lower grade, period or periods of regular service rendered in that grade, including period or periods of absence during which he would have held a post on regular basis in that grade but for being on leave or otherwise not being available to hold such post, from the first day of January of the year for which the recruitment was made.

Rule 3. Composition of the Service :-

 

(1)     There shall be five grades in the Service, namely:-

(2)     All the posts in any grade of the Service existing before commencement of these rules shall be deemed to have been converted into duty posts of the grade as specified in Schedule V and Schedule VI.

Rule 4. Authorised strength of the service and its review :-

 

(1)     The duty posts included in various grades of the service, their numbers and the level in the pay matrix on the date of commencement of these rules shall be as specified in Schedule I.

(2)     Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), the Government may-

(a)      from time to time make temporary additions or alterations to the duty posts in various grades of the Service;

(b)      include in the Service such posts of the Armed Forces Headquarters and Inter Service Organisations as can be deemed to be equivalent to the posts included in the Service in status, grade, pay scale and professional content or exclude from the service a duty post already included in the service.

Rule 5. Members of the Service :-

 

(1)     The following persons shall be the members of the service,-

(a)      persons appointed to duty posts under rule 6; and

(b)      persons appointed to duty posts under rule 7 from the date of such appointment.

Rule 6. Initial Constitution of Service :-

 

(1)     All existing officers holding Group A and B duty posts in the organisations specified in Schedule II on regular basis in the Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers Service on the date of commencement of these rules shall be members of the Service in the respective grades.

(2)     The regular continuous Service of officers referred to in sub-rule (1) before the commencement of these rules shall count for the purpose of probation, promotion, confirmation in the Service.

Rule 7. Method of recruitment and future maintenance of the Service :-

 

(1)     The vacant duty posts in any of the grades referred to in Schedule I shall be filled in the manner provided in Schedule IV.

(2)     For the purpose of promotion to posts in the grades of Executive Principal Private Secretary, Senior Principal Private Secretary, Principal Private Secretary, Private Secretary and Personal Assistant, select list shall be prepared in accordance with the general orders or instructions issued by the Government from time to time.

(3)     Every officer shall, unless he is on leave or otherwise not available for holding a duty post or for any other reason to be recorded in writing, be posted against a duty post of the appropriate grade of the Service.

(4)     Every duty post, unless declared to be excluded from the Service or held in abeyance for any reason, shall ordinarily be held by an officer of the appropriate grade.

Rule 8. Filling of duty posts by deputation :-

 

(1)    Notwithstanding anything contained in rule 7, where the Government is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient to do so, it may, by order and for reasons to be recorded in writing and in consultation with the Union Public Service Commission, fill a duty post in the grades of Executive Principal Private Secretary, Senior Principal Private Secretary, Principal Private Secretary and Private Secretary by deputation for a period of three years, which can be extended in special circumstances up to five years.

(2)    Notwithstanding anything contained in rule 7, where the Government is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do, it may, for reasons to be recorded in writing fill a duty post in the grade of Personal Assistant by deputation for a period of three years, which can be extended in special circumstances up to five years.

(3)    The qualification, experience and eligibility service for appointment to any grade of the service under this rule shall be decided by the Government in consultation with the Union Public Service Commission.

Rule 9. Seniority :-

 

(1)     The relative seniority of members of the Service on commencement of these rules shall be the relative seniority in their respective grades as determined before commencement of these rules:

 

Provided that if the seniority of any member of the Service had not been specifically determined before commencement of these rules, it shall be determined by the Government.

(2)     The seniority of persons appointed to various grades of the Service after commencement of these rules shall be determined in accordance with the general orders or instructions issued by the Government from time to time.

Rule 10. Probation :-

(1)     Every person on appointment to the grade of Principal Private Secretary and Personal Assistant of the Service shall be on probation for a period of two years:

Provided that the appointing authority may extend the period of probation in accordance with the general instructions issued by the Government from time to time.

(2)     On completion of the period of probation or any extension thereof, officers shall, if considered fit for permanent appointment, be retained in their appointments on regular basis and be confirmed in due course against the available substantive vacancies, as the case may be.

(3)     If, during the period of probation, or its extension thereof, as the case may be, appointing authority is of the opinion that an officer is not fit for permanent appointment, the officer may be discharged from the service or reverted to the post held by him prior to his appointment in the concerned grade of the Service, as the case may be.

(4)     During the period of probation, or any extension thereof, officers may be required to undergo such courses of training and instructions and to pass such examinations, and tests (including examination in Hindi), as may be deemed fit, as a condition to satisfactory completion of the probation.

(5)     An officer appointed to the grade of Personal Assistant of the Service who has no lien or has lien on any post under the Government or any State Government shall while on probation, be liable to be discharged from the Service or reverted to the lien post as the case may be, at any time without notice, if:

 

(a)      On the basis of his performance or conduct during probation, he is considered unfit for further retention in the Service; or

(b)      On the receipt of any information relating to his nationality, age, health or antecedents or any other aspect relevant to his appointment, the appointing authority is satisfied that he is ineligible or otherwise unfit for being a member of the Service.

(6)     As regards other matter relating to probation, the members of the service shall be governed by the instructions issued by the Government in this regard from time to time.

Rule 11. Appointment to the Service :-

 

(1)     All appointments to the Service shall be made by the Appointing Authority for all the duty posts in various grades of the Service.

(2)     Appointment of direct recruits in the grades of Personal Assistant of the Service shall be subject to the following conditions:-

(a)      Such enquiry as may be considered necessary by the Government to assess their suitability; and

(b)      Persons should be free from any mental or physical defect, after such medical examination as the Government may prescribe, which is likely to interfere with the discharge of the duties of the Service.

Rule 12. Liability to serve in posts connected with Defence :-

 

Any officer appointed to the service, if so required, shall be liable upto the age of fifty years to serve in any Defence Service anywhere in India in posts other than the duty post in Ministry of Defence or Department connected with the Defence of India, for a period not exceeding four years. The officers may also be required to serve in any Central Government offices or public sector undertaking if the Government so decides.

Rule 13. Disqualification :-

 

No person,-

(a)      who has entered into or contracted a marriage with a person having a spouse living; or

(b)      who, having a spouse living, has entered into or contracted a marriage with any person, shall be eligible for appointment to the Service :

Provided that the Central Government may, if satisfied that such marriage is permissible under the personal law applicable to such person and the other party to the marriage and that there are other grounds for so doing, exempt any person from the operation of this rule.

Rule 14. Regulation of pay :-

 

The pay and increments of officers of various grades shall be regulated in accordance with the Fundamental Rules or other Rules in force relating to pay.

Rule 15. Composition of Departmental Promotion Committee and Departmental Confirmation Committee :-

 

The composition of Departmental Promotion Committee and Departmental Confirmation Committee for various grades of the service shall be as specified in Schedule III.

Rule 16. Preparation of select list :-

 

The Departmental Promotion Committee shall meet as and when required for preparing a select list of officers from amongst the eligible officers in the grades of Senior Principal Private Secretary, Principal Private Secretary, Private Secretary, Personal Assistant and Stenographer to fill the vacancies in the grade of Executive Principal Private Secretary, Senior Principal Private Secretary, Principal Private Secretary, Private Secretary and Personal Assistant after following the procedure to be observed by the Departmental Promotion Committee as laid down by the Central Government from time to time.

Rule 17. Residuary matters :-

 

In regard to matters not specifically covered by these rules the members of the service shall be governed by the rules and orders applicable to the Central Civil Service in general.

Rule 18. Power to relax :-

 

Where the Central Government is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do, it may, by order and for reasons to be recorded in writing and in consultation with the Union Public Service Commission, relax any of the provisions of these rules with respect to any class or category of persons or posts.

Rule 19. Saving :-

 

Nothing in these rules shall affect reservation, relaxation of age limit and other concessions required to be provided for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Other Backward Classes, the exservicemen and other special categories of persons in accordance with the orders issued by the Central Government from time to time in this regard.

Rule 20. Interpretation :-

 

If any question arises relating to the interpretation of these rules or the regulations or orders made or issued thereunder, the same shall be decided by the Government.

Schedule I

 

The authorised strength of the various Grades of the Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers (Group A and B Posts) Service shall be as follows:-

* "Subject to variation dependent on workload."

Note: Duty posts in the above grades shall be as applicable to the Armed Forces Headquarters and Inter Service Organisation as listed in Schedule II.

Schedule II

Names of the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence and Inter Service Organisations to whom the Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers (Group A and B Posts) Service Rules, 2024, shall apply.

(a)      Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence.

1.        Army.

2.        Navy.

3.        Air.

4.        Defence Staff Headquarters.

(b)      Inter Service Organisation of the Ministry of Defence.

1.        Armed Forces Film and Photo Division.

2.        Defence Research and Development Organisation.

3.        Advance Technology Vessel Project.

4.        Directorate General of Defence Estates.

5.        Directorate of Planning and Coordination.

6.        Directorate of Public Relations, including Sainik Samachar.

7.        Directorate of Standardisation.

8.        Directorate General Aeronautical Quality Assurance.

9.        Directorate General, Armed Forces Medical Services.

10.     Directorate General Quality Assurance.

11.     Directorate General National Cadet Corps.

12.     Directorate General of Resettlement.

13.     Ordnance Factory Cell.

14.     History Division.

15.     Kendriya Sainik Board.

16.     Joint Cipher Bureau.

17.     Ministry of Defence, Distribution Section.

18.     Ministry of Defence, Library.

19.     National Defence College.

20.     Office of the Joint Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer.

21.     School of Foreign Language.

22.     Security Office.

23.     Services Sports Control Board.

24.     Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment.

* subject to addition or alteration in the list of Inter Service Organisations functioning under the Ministry of Defence.

Schedule III

Composition of the Departmental Promotion Committee for considering promotion and Departmental Confirmation Committee for considering confirmation.

Schedule IV

Method of recruitment, field of promotion and minimum qualifying service in the next lower grade for appointment of officers by promotion to duty posts included in various grades of the Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers (Group A and B Posts) Service.

Note 1: Where juniors who have completed their qualifying or eligibility service are being considered for promotion, their seniors shall also be considered provided they are not short of the requisite qualifying or eligibility service by more than half of such qualifying or eligibility service or two years, whichever is less, and have successfully completed probation period for promotion to the next higher grade along with their juniors who have already completed such qualifying or eligibility service.

Note 2: The procedure and the eligibility conditions, including educational qualifications, for the competitive examinations including Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations referred to under column (3), clause (ii) for the post of Private Secretary and under column (3), clauses (ii) and (iii) for the post of Personal Assistant respectively, shall be as per the rules notified by the Central Government or the Union Public Service Commission for the purpose from time to time.

Note 3: The age- limit for direct recruitment to the grade of Personal Assistant shall be "not exceeding thirty years".

Schedule V

Duty posts included in Executive Principal Private Secretary Grade of the Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers (Group A and B Posts) Service.

1.        All posts of Executive Principal Private Secretary to General or equivalent in Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army, Navy and Air) and Chief of Integrated Staff Committee.

2.        All posts of Executive Principal Private Secretary to Lieutenant Generals or equivalent, having the status of Vice Chief of Staff in Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army, Navy and Air).

3.        The post of Executive Principal Private Secretary to Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri.

4.        The post of Executive Principal Private Secretary to Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services.

5.        The post of Executive Principal Private Secretary to Director General, Advance Technology Vessel Project.

Duty posts included in Senior Principal Private Secretary Grade of the Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers (Group A and B Posts) Service.

1.        All posts of Senior Principal Private Secretary to General or equivalent in Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army, Navy and Air).

2.        All posts of Senior Principal Private Secretary to Lieutenant Generals or equivalent in Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army, Navy and Air).

3.        The posts of Senior Principal Private Secretary to Director General Defence Estates, Director General Quality Assurance, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services and Chief Controller, Research and Development (Armament and Combat Engineering System or Naval System), Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Duty Posts included in Principal Private Secretary Grade of the Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers (Group A and B Posts) Service.

1.        All posts of Principal Private Secretary to Lieutenant Generals or equivalent in Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army, Navy and Air), Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters and Inter Service Organisations of the Ministry of Defence.

2.        All posts of Principal Private Secretary to Major Generals or equivalent or Joint Secretary or Principal Director, Armed Forces Headquarters in Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army, Navy and Air), Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters and Inter Service Organisations of the Ministry of Defence.

Schedule VI

[See rule 3(2)]

Duty posts included in Private Secretary Grade of the Armed Forces Headquarters Stenographers (Group A and B Posts) Service.

1.        All posts of Private Secretary to Major Generals or equivalent or Principal Directors, Armed Forces Headquarters; Brigadier or equivalent or Director, Armed Forces Headquarters in Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army, Navy and Air ), Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters and Inter Service Organisation.