Deviation viewed seriously by authorities
*Admn Secys asked to ensure filing in electronic mode only
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 18: Several Government servants are not strictly following the instructions on recording of Annual Performance Reports (APRs) on Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW) despite explicit and repeated directions from the General Administration Department and this deviation has been viewed seriously by the authorities as the same stifles the very purpose of the guidelines.
In order to streamline the processing of Annual Performance Reports (APRs) in respect of Gazetted Officers of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW) was made live from September 15, 2022.
The intent of switching over of Annual Performance Appraisal Reports from manual mode to online system was to ensure ready access of the Annual Performance Report by the authorized users, preventing loss of APRs in transition, enhanced transparency, better monitoring and timely completion of performance appraisals.
For recording of Annual Performance Appraisal Reports on SPARROW in respect of Gazetted Officers for the financial year 2022-23, detailed instructions were issued vide Circular No. 12-JK(GAD) of 2023 dated March 28, 2023. However, it has been observed that despite repeated instructions, several Gazetted officers are still getting their APRs processed in the offline mode, which stifles the very purpose of elaborate set of instructions/guidelines notified on the subject and the electronic SPARROW window, Commissioner Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department Sanjeev Verma said.
Taking serious note of this deviation, the General Administration Department has impressed upon all the Gazetted Officers to record Annual Performance Reports through online mode only, strictly in accordance with the rules notified by the Government from time to time.
Moreover, all the Administrative Secretaries have been asked to ensure that APRs in case of Gazetted Officers are not processed manually and are filed in electronic mode only, on the designated SPARROW portal.
It is pertinent to mention here that with a view to streamline the Annual Performance Appraisal Reports—APR Cycle in respect of Gazetted Officers (except IAS, IPS, IFoS and JKAS officers) of all departments, Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW) was made live for filing of APRs with effect from 15.09.2022.
In order to ensure the timely generation and completion of Annual Performance Appraisal Reports, all the officers who were entrusted with the role of Custodians, in respect of Gazetted Officers on SPARROW platform, across all departments, were directed to get the requisite information of the Gazetted Officers and details of Initiating/ Reviewing/ Accepting Authorities of the Gazetted Officers in accordance with the rules notified vide Government Order No. 1311-GAD of 2001 dated 09.11.2001 read with Government Order No. 375-GAD of 2008 dated 26.03.2008, Government Order No. 150-JK(GAD) of 2019 dated 06.12.2019 and Government Order No. 09-JK(GAD) of 2021 dated 05.01.2021.
It was specifically mentioned that this information shall be used by the Custodians to generate blank APRs of the Gazetted Officers for self appraisal. It was further elaborated that the blank APRs for the financial year 2022-23, once generated by the Custodians shall be forwarded to the concerned Gazetted Officers through the portal for self appraisal which shall subsequently be forwarded to Initiating, Reviewing and Accepting Authorities.
As per the clearly defined procedure, the APRs remain available in the account of the officers for fixed timelines and thereafter are auto forwarded as such it was impressed upon all the officers to record Annual Performance Reports as per fixed timelines and strictly in accordance with rules notified by the Government from time to time, to avoid auto forward at any stage, which would be treated as default on the part of the officer concerned.
Moreover, all the Administartive Departments were directed to strictly monitor and ensure timely completion of APR cycle in respect of Gazetted officers for the financial year 2022-23. But even after clearly laid down procedure several Gazetted officers are getting their APRs processed in the offline mode.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
