Pune: PCMC Deputy Engineer Faces Probe for Violating Two-Child Policy for Government Employees

Pimpri, 30th July 2025: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has initiated a departmental inquiry against a deputy engineer from its civil department for allegedly breaching the two-child policy mandated under Maharashtra government service rules.

The case pertains to the Maharashtra Civil Services (Declaration of Small Family) Rules, 2005, which disqualifies government employees from service if they have a third child born after March 28, 2006. As per PCMC officials, the concerned engineer became a parent for the third time in December 2008, a clear violation of the policy.

“The officer has acknowledged the birth of his third child when asked for clarification,” a senior official from the civic body confirmed. The official added that the inquiry process will conclude within a month and, based on the findings, disciplinary action will be taken as per protocol.

It was also noted that the engineer joined PCMC as a junior engineer prior to 2005, but the small family rule remains applicable irrespective of when the appointment occurred. The regulation spans across all levels of government service—from Group A to Group D—and mandates a self-declaration upon joining service that the employee shall not have more than two living children after the specified cut-off date.

As per procedure, if the officer is found guilty of violating the norm, dismissal will require a formal resolution to be passed in the PCMC General Body meeting. Additionally, those removed under this rule are not entitled to post-retirement benefits, including pension and gratuity.

This move comes shortly after a similar case involving a former assistant commissioner, whose termination for violating the same rule was quashed by the Bombay High Court in February this year, just days before his scheduled retirement.

While the court ordered that the officer be granted retirement benefits, it clarified that the ruling was not to be treated as a precedent. In its order, the court allowed the civic body to deduct ₹7.5 lakh from the official’s gratuity, a condition the petitioner accepted voluntarily.

Following the court’s direction, the PCMC administration has now moved forward with releasing pending retirement dues to the former assistant commissioner, adhering to the legal mandate.

The latest case has reignited discussions about enforcement and consistency of the two-child policy in public service, especially when applied retrospectively or in borderline cases.