Rule 218 - Disposal of Goods | KartavyaDesk
Original Rule Text
should, as far as possible prepare a list of such goods. (ii) Certain surplus or obsolete or unserviceable goods such as expired medicines, food grain, ammunition etc., which are hazardous or unfit for human consumption, should be disposed of or destroyed immediately by adopting suitable mode so as to avoid any health hazard and/or environmental pollution and also the possibility of misuse of such goods. (iii) Surplus or obsolete or unserviceable goods, equipment and documents, which involve security concerns (e.g. currency, negotiable instruments, receipt books, stamps, security press etc.) should be disposed of/ destroyed in an appropriate manner to ensure compliance with rules relating to official secrets as well as financial prudence.
What This Means
Rule 218 of the General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017 deals with how government departments should handle surplus, obsolete, or unserviceable goods. Basically, it says you can't just let old stuff pile up! The rule emphasizes the importance of identifying these goods and disposing of them properly. This is crucial for maintaining efficiency, preventing waste, and ensuring public safety. It affects all government departments and agencies that manage physical assets, from office supplies to specialized equipment.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Key Points
- •Identify and list surplus, obsolete, or unserviceable goods.
- •Hazardous or unfit goods (expired medicines, etc.) must be disposed of immediately and safely to prevent health hazards and environmental pollution.
- •Goods involving security concerns (currency, stamps, etc.) must be disposed of in a manner that complies with official secrets and financial prudence.
- •Departments should adopt suitable modes of disposal or destruction based on the nature of the goods.
Practical Example
The District Health Office in Rampur has a stock of expired vaccines worth ₹50,000. According to Rule 218, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sharma, must immediately arrange for their safe disposal. He cannot simply discard them in the regular trash. He needs to follow established protocols for biohazardous waste disposal, ensuring that the vaccines are incinerated by an authorized vendor to prevent any potential health risks. Similarly, the local treasury office needs to shred old, unused receipt books in a secure manner to prevent fraud.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are 'unserviceable goods'?▼
What constitutes a 'suitable mode' of disposal?▼
Who is responsible for ensuring compliance with Rule 218?▼
What happens if we don't follow Rule 218?▼
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Test Your Knowledge
Question 1 of 3
As per Rule 218 of GFR 2017, what is the primary responsibility of government departments regarding surplus, obsolete, or unserviceable goods?
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