Tamil Nadu Makes Asset Disclosure Mandatory for Government Employee Promotions

An order issued by Chief Secretary Saikumar requires employees to provide details of their movable and immovable properties, savings and outstanding loans.

The directive also covers properties purchased or registered in another person's name. Employees must disclose such properties and provide details of the person in whose name the property has been registered, along with the relationship between that individual and the employee.

The government has made timely compliance directly relevant to promotion eligibility. Only employees who submit the required financial information within the prescribed deadline will be included in the list of employees considered for promotion, according to the order.

The directive states that failure to furnish the required information will be treated as a violation of the conduct rules applicable to government employees.

Employees must submit a comprehensive declaration covering both their financial holdings and liabilities. The online system is intended to bring details of properties, savings and borrowings together in a single submission.

The disclosure requirement extends beyond assets held directly in an employee's name. If a property has been acquired in another person's name, the employee must still report it and identify the person concerned and their relationship with the employee.

The government has therefore made clear that holding property in another person's name does not exempt an employee from the disclosure requirement.

All government staff covered by the directive have been asked to complete their declarations through the Integrated Finance and Human Resource Management System website within the stipulated timeframe.

The order places responsibility on employees to ensure that details of both movable and immovable assets, savings and loans are accurately submitted before the October 31 deadline.

Timely disclosure will allow employees to be considered for inclusion in promotion lists, but failure to comply will be treated as a breach of the applicable government employee conduct rules.