Kerala State Legal Advisers And Public Prosecutors (Vigilance And Anti Corruption Bureau) Service, Special Rules, 2023

[23rd December 2023]

In exercise of powers conferred by subsection (1) of section 2 of the Kerala Public Services Act, 1968(19 of 1968) and in supersession of the Special Rules for the Kerala State Legal Advisers(Vigilance & Anti Corruption Bureau) Service, 2002 issued under G.O.(P)No.3/2002/Vig dated 15th January, 2002 and published as S.R.O. No. 49/2002 in the Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No.108 dated 22nd January, 2002, the Government of Kerala hereby make the following Special Rules for the Kerala State Legal Advisers(Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau) Services, namely:

Rule - 1. Short title and commencement

(1)     These rules may be called the Kerala State Legal Advisers and Public Prosecutors (Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau) Service, Special Rules, 2023.

(2)     They shall come into force at once.

Rule - 2. Constitution

The service shall consist of the following categories, namely :

(1)     Legal Adviser.

(2)     Public Prosecutor.

Rule - 3. Method of Appointment

Appointment to these categories shall be made as follows :

Rule - 4. Appointing Authority

The appointing authority in respect of the categories mentioned in these Rules, shall be the Government.

Rule - 5. Reservation of appointments

The rules relating to reservation of appointments (General Rules 14 to 17, KS&SSR 1958, Part II ) shall apply to the appointments by direct recruitment.

Rule - 6. Qualification

For appointment as Public Prosecutor a candidate shall possess the following qualifications, namely :

(1)     Graduation in Law from a UGC recognized University or a National Institute established by the Government of India or Institute established by the Government of Kerala.

(2)     Ten years of active practice at the Bar

OR

Eight years of service as Assistant Public Prosecutor in either grade or both grades together, on the date on which applications are invited.

Rule - 7. Qualification regarding age

No person shall be eligible for appointment by direct recruitment under these rules, if the person has completed 45 years of age on the 1st day of January of the year in which applications for appointment are invited.

Note : Usual relaxation in upper age limit shall be allowed to candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.

Rule - 8. Probation

(a)      Every person appointed by promotion to the post of Legal Adviser shall, from the date on which the person joins duty, be on probation for a total period of six months on duty within a continuous period of one year.

(b)      Every person appointed by direct recruitment to the post of Public Prosecutor shall, after completion of training prescribed under subrule (1) of rule 9, be on probation for a total period of two years on duty within a continuous period of three years.

Rule - 9. Training

(1)     A person appointed as Public Prosecutor shall, on and from the date of the persons appointment, undergo training for a period of three months under the Director, Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau.

(2)     During the period of training the person shall be entitled to such allowances as may be specified by the Government from time to time. The period of training shall not count for probation and increments in the time scale of pay.

Rule - 10. Test

Every person appointed to category 2 shall within the period of probation, pass the Account Test for Executive Officers of the Kerala State, if the person has not already passed the test:

Provided that a person who has already passed Account Test for Subordinate Officers Part I/Account Test for Executive Officers (Madras) shall not be required to pass the test.