Charge sheets do not spring like a bolt from the blue. In fact the officer employee knows that if he fails to take essential precautions to safeguard the interests of the organization he serves or commits forbidden acts, the result may lead to his being served a charge sheet. The saying goes 'once bitten twice shy'. Once if you fail initially, or circumstances conspire and land you to a imminent disciplinary case, you still have sufficient opportunities subsequently to make good and to exercise prudence and effect substantial damage control, and avert a major hardship. The charged officer has the following stages to look after his interests

1. Preventive stage -"Be vigilant and avert pitfalls"

   Pitfalls of charge sheets can be avoided, if the 6-step, 20-Point guidelines recommended by me is followed and structured system of job-attendance is adhered to.

2. Pre-emptive stage -"Act swiftly and control damage, once symptoms of trouble brews

• Despite your being vigilant, if the innate risks, characteristic of your job, result in adverse situation developing threatening in ending with a disciplinary case, be wise and start working towards averting the eventuality from the beginning. Try to redeem the situation and remove the irregularities. Take as many corrective steps as warranted. Keep advising progress and steps taken for further improvement to competent authorities. Do not hide material developments and report both beneficial and adverse results. Remember what you keep to yourselves and fail to report now, will eventually come to their knowledge through external sources. This is not to your good.

• Do not neglect the spark, when it first appears. Put it down, lest it grows wild and burn the whole house. It is easier to extinguish a spark, but not a wild fire.

• Calmly recollect the sequence of events and the mental processes (motivations) that resulted in your originally taking particular steps in good faith and record all details for your future reference as a first hand source.

• Select your guide officer, who will eventually serve as your defence-assisting officer, and brief him the complete details.

• Disarm fault finding by Inspector coming to investigate the adverse "affairs" that have developed, by corrective actions, streamlining your office house-keeping, and updating your reporting system. Do not give opportunity to the investigating officer to report anything new in his investigation report, which you have not earlier brought to the notice of the competent authorities. Also state your point of view to the investigating officer and request him to include the same in his report

• Study the Investigation Report, set right removable items reported adversely, place on record your reasoned explanation justifying your action, for what-ever decisions/actions you have taken, if not already done.

• Note all material facts in your favour omitted to be included by the investigating officer. Clarify matters to the authorities to enable them to have a balanced view

3. Seek Protection Stage - mobilise your talents, to defend, diffuse and explain and disarm allegations against you

   We have already explained in detail steps to be pursued in each of the above stages from the preliminary inquiry up to the submission of response for the second reference from the disciplinary authority.

Charged Officer to know that the allegations against him will be deemed as proved, if the presenting officer proves the bare facts as mentioned in the imputations. He need not have to prove beyond reasonable doubt, but based on preponderance of probability. However the charged officer has the opportunity to explain the allegations against him satisfactorily and prevent this happening. He can also offer his own evidence in his favour. We have given guidelines as to how to reply the charge sheet, submit list of defence documents & witnesses, prepare defence statement and brief, as also how to respond 2nd stage reference from disciplinary authority.

The procedure for departmental inquiries is simple with transparent provisions and adequate safeguards in support of the Charged Officer. But the problem may surface from those who hold the responsibility to hold inquiries. They may function with closed mind, with petty prejudices and with subjectiveness.

The charged officer has to ensure that there are no procedural lapses, resulting in miscarriage of justice against him. Thus during Inquiry - be alert

• to ensure that inquiry processes are carried out honestly and in a bonafide manner.

• The evidence in your favour are properly presented, and adequate steps taken to rebut and disprove the allegations.

Peruse the suggestions for organising Officers Legal Assistance Forum and discuss the benefits with fellow officers.

Charged officer to go through thoroughly the guidelines on this web site intended for him, and also those for the inquiry officer and the presenting officer and optionally other guidelines.

The entire web site is conceived under categorisation "Society & Culture, Issues & Causes - Welfare of Bank Officers". It is for you to take interest to study chapters on "Integrity In Public Life & Service" and all other web pages. All the projects in the web site are inter-connected and intended for your goodness. This will give you a clear understanding of the prevailing environment in the service industry, which is the fastest growing sector in our economy.

The contents are being reviewed and updated almost every month. Please send me your valuable feedback. Be free to criticise, wherever you feel like that, for there can be no improvement, unless feedback gives me the shortcomings.

Economic philosophy of the country has changed. Government has agreed to change its policy and lesson its grip and control on anything and everything. It is time we also change and remove corruption from our services, more so, from our own minds, that we have inherited as a legacy during the past sixty years, not inherently on account of our culture, but due to the environment that we were put to. Each one us have to change, because we either give or receive illegal gratification. If not both we are silent spectators and indirect abettors by our default to report.