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Odisha Finance Dept Letter No. 12855: Accountability for Delay in Posting Orders & Joining Time Extension
Accountability for Delay in Posting Orders – Finance Department Order 12855
Department: Finance Department, Government of Odisha
Letter No: 12855/F | FIN-CS2-MCS-0001-2026
Date: 15.05.2026
From: Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government
To: All Additional Chief Secretaries / Principal Secretaries / Commissioner-cum-Secretaries / Secretaries to Government (All Departments)
⚠️ Critical Directive: Administrative Departments must fix accountability for delays in issuing posting orders. Idle salary paid to government servants due to such delays shall be recovered from erring officials.
📋 Subject Matter
Delay in issue of posting orders leading to abnormal extension of joining time – fixation of accountability regarding.
🔍 Background & Context
📅 Normal Joining Time Limit
Administrative Departments have powers to sanction joining time up to 120 days (Finance Dept O.M. No. 12598/F, dated 28.03.2011).
📜 Procedure Prescribed
Relief from old post and joining new post procedures outlined in Finance Dept O.M. No. 5711/F, dated 05.02.1980.
⚖️ Extension Guidelines
Conditions for joining time beyond 120 days specified in Circular Letter No. 47352/F (09.10.2002) and 50965/F (15.12.2006).
🚨 The Problem Identified
Government has noticed that files relating to detailed posting orders and joining instructions are being kept pending at various levels without adequate justification, resulting in:
Abnormal delays with extension of joining time beyond 6 months and above
Serious Implications
Payment of idle salary to employees without commensurate service
Negative audit observations
Avoidable administrative & financial complications
📢 Government Directives (Mandatory Compliance)
1️⃣ Fixation of Accountability
Administrative Departments shall fix responsibility on officers whose inaction led to sanction of joining time beyond 30 days.
Action Required: The idle salary paid to the government servant shall be recovered from the erring officials.
2️⃣ Discouraging Routine Extensions
Extension of joining time beyond the admissible limit shall not be allowed as a matter of routine.
Proposals for extension beyond 120 days and particularly beyond 6 months shall be subjected to strict scrutiny.
3️⃣ Utilisation of Services During Interim Period
When an employee has reported for duty but detailed posting orders are yet to be issued:
The Administrative Department / Controlling Authority shall ensure services are gainfully utilised in an appropriate office/assignment during the intervening period to avoid payment of idle salary.
4️⃣ Pre-conditions for Submission of Proposal
No proposal for extension of joining time shall be considered unless the Administrative Department clearly indicates:
✓ The reasons for delay
✓ The officers/officials responsible for such delay
✓ The action taken against the erring officers
The proposal/file shall be submitted only after incorporating the above details.
⚠️ Strict Compliance Warning: All Departments are requested to ensure strict compliance of these instructions. Any deviation in this regard shall be viewed seriously.
📊 Key Timelines to Remember
30 Days
Accountability threshold – delays beyond this trigger recovery of idle salary from erring officials
120 Days
Maximum joining time that can be sanctioned by Administrative Departments without Finance Department approval
6 Months+
Cases requiring particularly strict scrutiny with mandatory accountability reporting
🎯 Who This Affects
Primary Stakeholders:
✓ All Administrative Departments of Odisha Government
✓ Heads of Departments
✓ All officers involved in processing posting orders
✓ Government servants awaiting posting orders
✓ Financial Advisers and Controlling Authorities
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the maximum joining time that can be sanctioned by Administrative Departments?
Administrative Departments have been delegated powers to sanction joining time up to a period of 120 days as per Finance Department O.M. No. 12598/F, dated 28.03.2011.
2. What happens if posting orders are delayed beyond 30 days?
Administrative Departments must fix responsibility on the officers whose inaction led to the delay. The idle salary paid to the government servant during this period shall be recovered from the erring officials.
3. Can joining time be extended beyond 120 days routinely?
No. Extension of joining time beyond the admissible limit shall not be allowed as a matter of routine. Such proposals will be subjected to strict scrutiny, especially if beyond 6 months.
4. What should be done if an employee reports for duty but posting orders are not yet issued?
The Administrative Department or Controlling Authority must ensure that the employee's services are gainfully utilized in an appropriate office/assignment during the intervening period to avoid payment of idle salary.
5. What are the pre-conditions for submitting a proposal for joining time extension?
The proposal must clearly indicate: (i) reasons for delay, (ii) officers/officials responsible for delay, and (iii) action taken against erring officers. The proposal will not be considered unless these details are incorporated.
6. Who issued this order?
This order was issued by Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Government of Odisha on 15.05.2026.
7. What are the financial implications of delayed posting orders?
Delays result in payment of idle salary to employees without commensurate service, which is negatively pointed out by Audit. This leads to avoidable financial implications and administrative complications.
8. Is compliance with this order mandatory?
Yes. All Departments are requested to ensure strict compliance. Any deviation shall be viewed seriously by the Government.