The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. No./8/3/92-CS.II dated 14.1.94 wherein all instructions issued from time to time regarding the scale of personal staff admissible to Ministers/Deputy Ministers/Parliamentary Secretaries in the Union Council of Ministers have been compiled and made available. While laying down the entitlement in normal as well as in special situations, and also while providing for relaxation of the educational qualifications, the upper age limit etc., the tenure of the personal staff of a minister has been laid down as being co-terminus with the office of the Minster/Deputy Minster/Parliamentary Secretary. It has also been mentioned that it is the prerogative of a Minister/Deputy Minster/Parliamentary Secretary to appoint outsiders on his personal staff and that such appointments will be co-terminus with the terms of office of the Minster/Deputy Minster/Parliamentary Secretary. Para 11 of the said O.M. states that the verification of the character and antecedents of the persons to be appointed to the personal staff of the Ministers/Deputy Ministers/Parliamentary Secretaries has to be done in the light of the general instructions issued by the Department of Personnel & Training.

2. In this connection, it is clarified that although the persons appointed on the personal staff of a Minster/Deputy Minister/Parliamentary Secretary have a tenure co-terminus with the office of the Minster/Deputy Minster/Parliamentary Secretary, they, as long as they are in the employment of the Government, hold civil posts and, therefore, according to rule 1(3) of CCS (Conduct) Rules, all provisions of the conduct rules would be applicable to them. As a result those on the personal staff of a Minster/Deputy Minster/Parliamentary Secretary are required to submit the property returns as stipulated under the above mentioned Conduct Rules, as also to intimate/seek permission of the competent authority in respect of any transactions in movable/immovable property made by them. All Ministries/Departments may please ensure that these instructions are brought to the notice of all concerned for compliance.