The following general rules apply for counseling, transfers and postings,-
(1) Creating and maintaining an updated data base on the website:
(i) The Apex Authority shall ensure that there is a comprehensive website for the purpose of counseling, transfers and postings which is designed and maintained up-to-date at all times;
(ii) There shall be a Kannada version of the website also;
(iii) The data base shall be kept in public domain;
(iv) The website shall be mobile phone compatible; and
(v) Any transfer or posting shall be notified immediately on the website.
(2) Notification of available, vacant posts and inviting applications,- 8
(i) whenever transfers or postings are to be done, a suitable notification to that effect shall be published on the website.
The list shall include the number of available posts and vacant posts. They shall be further classified into critical and non-critical posts; and
(ii) applications shall be invited from eligible forest officers or other officials as the case may be. The notification shall state where, how, to whom and by what date and time the applications shall be submitted.
(3) Procedure for filing of applications:
(i) eligible forest officers or other officials shall submit their applications online in the prescribed format. Those who cannot do it themselves may take the help of other officials concerned in the office of controlling officer;
(ii) applicants shall indicate 3(three) available or vacant posts of his choice for the next posting. If the applicant does not want to make these choices, it shall be mentioned in the application form itself; and
(iii) if anyone due for transfer or posting fails to submit the application, the controlling officer shall take necessary action to file the application on his behalf and furnish available details. Non-submission of application does not mean that the officer or other official shall not be transferred.
(4) Controlling officers to furnishing additional details: Controlling officers shall verify the information furnished by the applicants immediately with the details available in the service register. They shall also ascertain and provide the following details in the application form and sign it digitally:
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(i) quote adverse remarks if any in the annual performance reports of last three years verbatim and indicate its status as on the date of reporting;
(ii) punishment awarded in the service for misconduct or indiscipline;
(iii) furnish details of disciplinary proceedings or criminal cases already pending against the applicant in any office, tribunal or court of law;
(iv) acts of omission and commission or any serious allegations in the present posting for which disciplinary proceedings are to be launched;
(v) any significant achievements beyond the normal call of duty which are worth rewarding;
(vi) any serious limitations or constraints the applicant is subject to; and
(vii) Overall performance rating for the total tenure of his present posting on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being least and 10 being best).
(5) each applicant shall be sent a short mobile phone message acknowledging the receipt of his application choice of place indicated in the application for next posting and the weightage points secured as soon as possible.
(6) Issuing the notification for counseling:
(i) the Apex Authority shall review the number of applications received cadre-wise, decide the scale of transfers, prioritize different categories of applicants and posts to be filled, and notify the dates for counseling on the website;
(ii) those who are required to be counseled by more than one Competent Authority shall be listed before all the relevant 10 Competent Authorities. Once they are posted, they need not attend the remaining counseling sessions;
(iii) those who have not filed their applications shall be listed for counseling by the lowest Competent Authority on the last day of counseling;
(iv) the notification shall include the name of the Counseling Authority, venue, date and serial number of applicants who shall be counseled each day; and
(v) website notification shall be considered as the call for counseling. A short mobile phone messages may be sent by the Competent Authorities.
(7) Procedure for counseling:
(i) officers or officials shall obtain written permission from their controlling officers for attending the counseling session and submit copy at the time of counseling. Travel for counseling shall be treated as official journey;
(ii) counseling is a process of arriving at a considered decision for offering suitable postings to the applicants. It shall be a semi-automatic process based on the credentials of the applicant, his weightage points and the choice of postings sought;
(iii) if the applicant’s service record is free from any blemish as per the information furnished by the controlling officer, the applicant shall be allowed to choose a place of posting in the order indicated in his application. If these posts are already filled up, the applicant may be permitted to choose any post from among the consequential vacancies available online at that point of time. If he agrees, the applicant may be considered for critical or sensitive posts if his performance is rated as excellent;
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(iv) immediately after agreeing on a new posting, a written order to that effect shall be issued on the spot under the signature and seal of the Chairperson and members of the Counseling Authority.
Copies of the orders shall be marked to the subordinate officers concerned for making relief or reporting arrangements. Necessary entries shall be made on the website immediately;
(v) if any applicant turns up late for counseling for genuine reasons, he shall be given an opportunity to appear before the Counseling Authority as soon as possible on the same day;
(vi) those who applied for transfer or posting but did not appear for counseling may be considered for any of the available posts listed in their applications. If none of them are available, they may be posted to any suitable consequential vacancy on the last day of counseling; and
(vii) vacancies shall be evenly distributed among the circles.
(8) Concluding the process of counseling:
(i) List of transfers or postings issued shall be prepared at the end of each working day by each Competent Authority, signed by all the members present and a copy shall be posted on the website at the end of each working day.
(ii) On the last day, vacancies and posting orders issued shall be reconciled. Anyone left out shall be issued a suitable posting order. If posts are not available and officers or officials have to be on compulsory waiting, place for reporting shall be indicated.
(iii) After the counseling schedule is concluded, brief proceedings of the entire counseling session shall be prepared and signed by the Chairperson and members and be published on the website. It shall include a brief summary of the number of applications received, numbers permitted to be counseled and posted by the Apex Authority, schedule of counseling, results of counseling 12 date-wise, list of pending applications, list of persons waiting for postings etc., for each cadre.
(iv) One set of hard copies of all Gazette notifications, Government orders, circulars, posting orders and proceedings of the counseling session, correspondence files, records, registers etc., shall be preserved in the office of the Chairperson of the Counseling Authority for reference purposes.