Bhubaneswar, June 1: The Orissa government has warned officers of the Orissa Administrative Service (OAS) of disciplinary action if they fail to submit their property statement by June 15.

“As many as 397 OAS Class-I (junior branch) officers have never submitted their property statements during their service career.

“Moreover, another 103 such officers have failed to furnish the latest property list by the due date (December 31, 2008),” revenue secretary R.K. Sharma told The Telegraph today.

Of the 184 IAS officers posted in Orissa, some have not submitted their latest property statement, chief secretary Bijay Patnaik said.

As per the Orissa Governmernt Servants Service Rules, 1959, it is mandatory, on part of government officers, to submit their property statement every three years.

However, it has been found that as many as 397 OAS officers belonging to Class-I (junior branch) have never submitted their property statements as per rules. A list of these defaulting officers has been posted in government website www.orissa.gov.in/revenue/property/property.htm.

In a circular issued tosecretaries of the government departments and district collectors yesterday, additional secretary in the revenue department S.N. Ahmed said: “In spite of repeated reminders, 397 OAS Class-I (junior branch) officers have never submitted their property statements.”

“The revenue department has decided to issue letters of warning to these officers through their controlling officers directing them to file their property statements by June 15, failing which departmental proceedings will be initiated against them for the lapse,” stated the circular.

“We will initiate disciplinary proceedings, if they fail to comply within the deadline,” Sharma said.

The revenue department is the appointing and disciplinary authority for all OAS officers.

At present, there are 1,133 OAS Class-I (junior branch) officers posted across Orissa.

The department had earlier directed OAS Class-I (junior branch) officers to submit their property statements following court directives to this effect.

“The government has also decided to remind them once again to submit their property statement for the period up to end of 2008 by June 15,” said the revenue department’s circular.

Speaking to The Telegraph, president of the Orissa Administrative Service Association, R.N. Nanda said: “I have nothing to comment on the government action. Every officer is bound by the conduct rules. If the conduct rules are not observed, it amounts to penal action.”

Nanda said: “It’s good that the government has given another chance to the defaulting officers.

“If they fail to comply by the revised deadline, they will face penal action.The association president, however, hoped that the action would not be “too harsh”.