vacancies occurring during the course of a year. For this purpose it is essential for the concerned Appointing Authorities to initiate action to fill up the existing as well as anticipated vacancies well in advance of the expiry of the previous panel by collecting relevant documents like CRs, Integrity Certificates, Seniority List, etc., for placing before the DPC. DPCs could be convened every year if necessary on a fixed date, e.g., Ist April or May. The Ministries/Departments should lay down a time schedule for holding DPCs under their control and after laying down such a schedule the same should be monitored by making one of their officers responsible for keeping a watch over the various cadre authorities to ensure that they are held regularly. Holding of DPC meetings need not be delayed or postponed on the ground that Recruitment Rules for a post are being reviewed/amended. A vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the Recruitment Rules in force on the date of vacancy, unless rules made subsequently have been expressly given retrospective effect. Since amendments to Recruitment Rules normally have only prospective application, the existing vacancies should be filled as per the Recruitment Rules in force.
