Rule 24 of CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 - Delegation of Powers

Rule 24 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 authorises the Government to delegate specified powers under the Conduct Rules to another officer or authority by a general or special order. The delegation may be made subject to conditions stated in that order.

Text of Rule 24 - Delegation of Powers

The Government may, by general or special order, direct that any power exercisable by it or any Head of Department under these rules (except the powers under Rule 23 and this rule) shall, subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the order, be exercisable also by such officer or authority as may be specified in the order.

Meaning and Scope of Rule 24

Rule 24 is an enabling provision. It permits the Government to distribute administrative authority under the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 without amending each substantive conduct rule whenever a competent lower or other authority needs to exercise a specified power.

  • Who may delegate: the Government may issue the delegation.
  • Form of delegation: it must be made through a general or special order.
  • Powers covered: a power exercisable by the Government or by a Head of Department under the Conduct Rules may be delegated, subject to the stated exclusions.
  • Conditions: the delegation can be made subject to conditions specified in the delegation order.
  • Recipient of power: the order must identify the officer or authority that may also exercise the delegated power.

Powers That Cannot Be Delegated Under Rule 24

Rule 24 expressly excludes the powers under Rule 23 - Interpretation and Rule 24 itself. Accordingly, Rule 24 cannot be used as the source for delegating those excluded powers.

Why Rule 24 Matters in Service Administration

The practical effect of Rule 24 is that the authority competent to act under a particular conduct rule may depend not only on the wording of that rule, but also on a valid general or special delegation order. In an individual service matter, the relevant delegation order, the category of employee, the office or department concerned, and any conditions attached to the delegation should therefore be checked before deciding whether a particular officer was competent to act.

Important: Rule 24 does not itself transfer every Government or Head of Department power automatically. The power becomes exercisable by another officer or authority only when a valid general or special order specifies that delegation and any applicable conditions.

Official References

For current Government material on the CCS (Conduct) Rules, consult the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management - CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964, an official Government of India resource. Department-specific orders and amendments may also be checked on the Department of Personnel and Training website.

For legal research, always read Rule 24 together with the substantive rule under which the relevant power is being exercised and the applicable delegation order, office memorandum, notification, or departmental instruction.

Last reviewed: September 14, 2026.