(1) A person appointed to a post in the Service shall remain on probation for a period of two years if recruited by direct appointment and one year if recruited otherwise :
Provided that -
(a) any period after appointment to the Service spent on deputation on a corresponding or a higher post shall count towards the period of probation fixed under this rule;
(b) in the case of an appointment by transfer, any period of service spent on an equivalent or higher post prior to appointment to the Service may, at the discretion of the appointing authority, be allowed to count towards the period of probation fixed under this rule; and
(c) any officiating appointment in the Service shall be reckoned as a period spent on probation, but no member who has thus officiated shall, on the completion of the prescribed period of probation, be entitled to be confirmed, unless he is appointed against a permanent post.
(2) If the work and conduct of a person appointed to the Service during the period of probation in the opinion of the appointing authority is not satisfactory, it may -
(a) dispense with his services, if recruited by direct appointment, and
(b) if recruited otherwise -
(i) revert him to his former post; or
(ii) deal with him in such other manner as the terms and conditions of his previous appointment permit.
(3) On the completion of the period of probation of a person, the appointing authority may -
(a) if his work or conduct in its opinion, has been satisfactory -
(i) confirm such person from the date of his appointment, if appointed against a permanent vacancy; or
(ii) confirm such person from the date from which a permanent vacancy occurs, if appointed against a temporary vacancy; or
(iii) declare that he has completed his probation satisfactorily, if there is no permanent vacancy; or
(b) if his work or conduct has not been in its opinion, satisfactory, -
(i) dispense with his services, if recruited by direct appointment or if recruited otherwise, revert him to his former post or deal with him in such 6 Punjab Municipal Elections Office (State Service Class-III) Rules, 1978, Rule 10 other manner as the terms and conditions of his previous appointment may permit; or
(ii) extend his period of probation and thereafter pass such orders as it would have passed on the expiry of the first period of probation :
Provided that the total period of probation including extension, if any, shall not exceed three years.
Rule 11