MCQs on Penalties and Disciplinary Authorities - CCS Rules
MCQs on Penalties and Disciplinary Authorities (CCS Rules, 1965)
Test your knowledge about penalties and disciplinary authorities for Central Civil Services as per the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965. Each question is based on the actual provisions of Rules 11, 12, and 13.
Note: These questions are based on Part V - Penalties and Disciplinary Authorities of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965.
Penalties (Rule 11)
1. Which of the following is NOT a minor penalty under Rule 11?
(a) Censure
(b) Withholding of promotion
(c) Compulsory retirement
(d) Withholding of increments of pay
Correct Answer: (c) Compulsory retirement
Compulsory retirement is a major penalty under clause (vii) of Rule 11, while the others are minor penalties.
2. Which penalty involves reduction to a lower stage in the time-scale of pay by one stage for a period not exceeding three years?
(a) Clause (v)
(b) Clause (iii)a
(c) Clause (vi)
(d) Clause (iv)
Correct Answer: (b) Clause (iii)a
Clause (iii)a specifies reduction to lower stage in the time-scale of pay by one stage for a period not exceeding three years, without cumulative effect.
3. Which penalty is ordinarily a disqualification for future employment under the Government?
(a) Removal from service
(b) Compulsory retirement
(c) Dismissal from service
(d) Reduction to lower time-scale
Correct Answer: (c) Dismissal from service
As per clause (ix), dismissal from service shall ordinarily be a disqualification for future employment under the Government.
4. In cases involving assets disproportionate to known sources of income, which penalties must be imposed?
(a) Censure or withholding of increments
(b) Reduction to lower stage or time-scale
(c) Removal or dismissal from service
(d) Compulsory retirement
Correct Answer: (c) Removal or dismissal from service
The first proviso to Rule 11 states that in cases of assets disproportionate to known sources of income, the penalty mentioned in clause (viii) or (ix) (removal or dismissal) shall be imposed.
5. Which of the following is NOT considered a penalty under the Explanation to Rule 11?
(a) Withholding of increments for failure to pass departmental examination
(b) Stoppage at efficiency bar due to unfitness
(c) Reduction to lower post as punishment
(d) Reversion from officiating higher post due to unsuitability
Correct Answer: (c) Reduction to lower post as punishment
Reduction to lower post as punishment is a penalty under clause (vi), while the other options are specifically excluded from being considered penalties as per the Explanation to Rule 11.
6. Which penalty allows for directions regarding whether increments will be earned during the reduction period?
(a) Clause (iii)a
(b) Clause (v)
(c) Clause (vi)
(d) Clause (iv)
Correct Answer: (b) Clause (v)
Clause (v) specifies reduction to a lower stage with further directions as to whether or not the government servant will earn increments during the period of reduction.
7. Under what circumstances can a penalty other than removal or dismissal be imposed in cases of assets disproportionate to known sources?
(a) Never, removal or dismissal is mandatory
(b) When the amount involved is small
(c) In exceptional cases with special reasons recorded in writing
(d) When the employee has a long service record
Correct Answer: (c) In exceptional cases with special reasons recorded in writing
The second proviso to Rule 11 states that in any exceptional case and for special reasons recorded in writing, any other penalty may be imposed.
8. Which penalty involves reduction to lower time-scale of pay, grade, post or Service for a specified period?
(a) Clause (iii)a
(b) Clause (v)
(c) Clause (vi)
(d) Clause (vii)
Correct Answer: (c) Clause (vi)
Clause (vi) specifies reduction to lower time-scale of pay, grade, post or Service for a period to be specified in the order of penalty.
9. Which of the following is considered a major penalty?
(a) Censure
(b) Withholding of promotion
(c) Recovery of pecuniary loss
(d) Reduction to lower time-scale of pay
Correct Answer: (d) Reduction to lower time-scale of pay
Reduction to lower time-scale of pay is a major penalty under clause (vi), while the others are minor penalties.
10. Termination of services of a temporary government servant is governed by:
(a) Rule 11(viii)
(b) Rule 5 of Central Civil Services (Temporary Service) Rules, 1965
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Neither (a) nor (b)
Correct Answer: (c) Both (a) and (b)
As per Explanation (viii)(b) to Rule 11, termination of services of a temporary government servant is in accordance with sub-rule (1) of rule 5 of the Central Civil Services (Temporary Service) Rules, 1965, and is not considered a penalty.
Disciplinary Authorities (Rule 12)
11. Who has the power to impose any of the penalties specified in Rule 11?
(a) Only the President
(b) Only the appointing authority
(c) The President and other designated authorities
(d) Only the Union Public Service Commission
Correct Answer: (c) The President and other designated authorities
As per Rule 12(1), the President may impose any penalty, and under Rule 12(2), other designated authorities may also impose penalties.
12. Who can impose penalties on a member of a Central Civil Service other than the General Central Service?
(a) Only the President
(b) Only the appointing authority
(c) The appointing authority or authority specified in the Schedule
(d) Only the Union Public Service Commission
Correct Answer: (c) The appointing authority or authority specified in the Schedule
Rule 12(2)(a) states that penalties may be imposed by the appointing authority or the authority specified in the schedule or by any other authority empowered by the President.
13. For Group C and Group D employees, who can exercise the power to impose penalties?
(a) Only the appointing authority
(b) The Secretary of the Ministry/Department or head of office
(c) Only the President
(d) Only the authority specified in the Schedule
Correct Answer: (b) The Secretary of the Ministry/Department or head of office
Rule 12(3) states that for Group C and Group D employees, the Secretary to the Government of India in that Ministry/Department or the head of that office can exercise the power to impose penalties.
14. Which of the following penalties cannot be imposed by any authority subordinate to the appointing authority?
(a) Censure
(b) Withholding of increments
(c) Reduction to lower stage (clause v or vi)
(d) All of the above
Correct Answer: (c) Reduction to lower stage (clause v or vi)
Rule 12(4)(a) states that no penalty specified in clause (v) to (ix) shall be imposed by any authority subordinate to the appointing authority, except in certain cases involving the Comptroller and Auditor-General.
15. When a government servant is temporarily appointed to another service or post, what must the competent authority do before imposing major penalties?
(a) Obtain permission from the President
(b) Consult the authority that would have been competent had he not been appointed to such other service
(c) Refer the case to the Union Public Service Commission
(d) No special procedure is required
Correct Answer: (b) Consult the authority that would have been competent had he not been appointed to such other service
Rule 12(4)(b) requires that the authority competent to impose penalties must consult such authority (not subordinate to it) that would have been competent to impose penalties had the government servant not been appointed to such other service or post.
16. Who is the authority competent to impose penalties on a probationer undergoing training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration?
(a) The President
(b) The appointing authority
(c) The Director of the Academy
(d) The Ministry of Personnel
Correct Answer: (c) The Director of the Academy
Rule 12(4)(c) specifies that the Director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration is the authority competent to impose certain penalties on probationers undergoing training there.
17. According to Explanation II of Rule 12, how is a government servant deemed when promoted to a higher group?
(a) He retains his original group for disciplinary purposes
(b) He is deemed to belong to the higher group
(c) His group classification depends on the nature of the offense
(d) He is considered to be in both groups simultaneously
Correct Answer: (b) He is deemed to belong to the higher group
Explanation II states that a government servant promoted to the next higher group shall be deemed for the purposes of this rule to belong to the Service of, or hold the Central Civil post of, such higher Group.
18. Which authority can impose the penalty of censure on a Group D employee serving in an office?
(a) Only the President
(b) Only the appointing authority
(c) The head of that office
(d) Only the authority specified in the Schedule
Correct Answer: (c) The head of that office
As per Rule 12(3)(b), for Group C and Group D employees serving in any office, the head of that office can exercise the power to impose penalties, unless the head is lower in rank than the authority competent under sub-rule (2).
19. For a person appointed to a Central Civil Post included in the General Central Service, who can impose penalties?
(a) Only the President
(b) Only the authority specified by general or special order of the President
(c) The authority specified by the President or, where no such order, the appointing authority
(d) Only the Union Public Service Commission
Correct Answer: (c) The authority specified by the President or, where no such order, the appointing authority
Rule 12(2)(b) states that for persons appointed to Central Civil Posts in the General Central Service, penalties may be imposed by the authority specified by general or special order of the President or, where no such order has been made, by the appointing authority.
20. The Comptroller and Auditor-General can impose which penalties on members of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service without being subject to the restriction on subordinate authorities?
(a) All penalties
(b) Only minor penalties
(c) Penalties specified in clause (v) or (vi)
(d) Only censure
Correct Answer: (c) Penalties specified in clause (v) or (vi)
Rule 12(4)(a) states that the restriction on authorities subordinate to the appointing authority imposing major penalties does not apply when the penalty specified in clause (v) or (vi) is imposed by the Comptroller and Auditor-General on a member of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service.
Authority to Institute Proceedings (Rule 13)
21. Who can institute disciplinary proceedings against any government servant?
(a) Only the President
(b) Only the disciplinary authority
(c) The President or any authority empowered by him
(d) Only the appointing authority
Correct Answer: (c) The President or any authority empowered by him
Rule 13(1) states that the President or any other authority empowered by him by general or special order may institute disciplinary proceedings against any government servant.
22. Who can direct a disciplinary authority to institute disciplinary proceedings?
(a) Only the President
(b) Any authority higher than the disciplinary authority
(c) The President or any authority empowered by him
(d) Only the Union Public Service Commission
Correct Answer: (c) The President or any authority empowered by him
Rule 13(1)(b) states that the President or any authority empowered by him may direct a disciplinary authority to institute disciplinary proceedings against any government servant on whom that disciplinary authority is competent to impose penalties.
23. Can a disciplinary authority competent to impose minor penalties institute proceedings for major penalties?
(a) No, never
(b) Yes, always
(c) Yes, but only with permission from the President
(d) Yes, as per Rule 13(2)
Correct Answer: (d) Yes, as per Rule 13(2)
Rule 13(2) states that a disciplinary authority competent to impose any of the minor penalties may institute disciplinary proceedings for the imposition of any of the major penalties, even if not competent to impose those major penalties.
24. If an authority can only impose penalties specified in clauses (i) to (iv) of Rule 11, can it institute proceedings for penalties in clauses (v) to (ix)?
(a) No, never
(b) Yes, but only with special permission
(c) Yes, as per Rule 13(2)
(d) Only for certain specified penalties
Correct Answer: (c) Yes, as per Rule 13(2)
Rule 13(2) explicitly allows a disciplinary authority competent to impose minor penalties to institute disciplinary proceedings for major penalties, even if not competent to impose those major penalties.
25. The power to institute disciplinary proceedings can be exercised by:
(a) Only the authority competent to impose penalties
(b) Only the appointing authority
(c) The President or any authority empowered by him
(d) Only authorities at the level of Joint Secretary and above
Correct Answer: (c) The President or any authority empowered by him
Rule 13(1) clearly states that the President or any other authority empowered by him by general or special order may institute disciplinary proceedings.
26. Can an authority that institutes proceedings for major penalties also impose those penalties if it is not competent to do so?
(a) Yes, always
(b) No, never
(c) Only with special permission from the President
(d) Only if authorized by the Union Public Service Commission
Correct Answer: (b) No, never
Rule 13(2) only allows instituting proceedings for major penalties, not imposing them. The authority must still be competent under Rule 12 to actually impose the penalties.
27. The authority empowered to institute proceedings can direct which disciplinary authority to institute proceedings?
(a) Any disciplinary authority
(b) Only authorities higher than itself
(c) Only the disciplinary authority competent to impose penalties on that government servant
(d) Only the appointing authority
Correct Answer: (c) Only the disciplinary authority competent to impose penalties on that government servant
Rule 13(1)(b) specifies that the direction can be given to a disciplinary authority that is competent to impose under these rules any of the penalties on that government servant.
28. The power to institute disciplinary proceedings is:
(a) Limited to cases involving major penalties only
(b) Limited to cases involving minor penalties only
(c) Available for both minor and major penalties
(d) Available only for penalties specified in the Schedule
Correct Answer: (c) Available for both minor and major penalties
Rule 13(1) does not distinguish between minor and major penalties when it comes to instituting disciplinary proceedings.
29. The empowerment of authorities to institute disciplinary proceedings is done by:
(a) General or special order of the President
(b) Notification in the Official Gazette
(c) Resolution of Parliament
(d) Order of the Supreme Court
Correct Answer: (a) General or special order of the President
Rule 13(1) explicitly states that the President may empower other authorities by general or special order to institute disciplinary proceedings.
30. The purpose of Rule 13(2) is to:
(a) Allow higher authorities to bypass normal procedures
(b) Enable initiation of proceedings for major penalties by authorities who can only impose minor penalties
(c) Restrict the powers of disciplinary authorities
(d) Simplify the disciplinary process for minor offenses
Correct Answer: (b) Enable initiation of proceedings for major penalties by authorities who can only impose minor penalties
Rule 13(2) specifically allows authorities competent to impose only minor penalties to institute disciplinary proceedings for major penalties, facilitating the initiation of proceedings even when the authority may not be competent to impose the ultimate penalty.
