UP chief secretary Rajive Kumar (IAS:1981:UP) is said to have written a letter on September 8, directing all additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries and heads of departments in the state to prepare a list by September 15 of non-performing officers and employees. The state government plans to chuck out these officers and employees. Non-performing officers and employees have attracted the spotlight following the state government's decision to get rid of some senior officials who got service extension after retirement during the previous Akhilesh Yadav government. The State government had earlier decided to prepare the list by July 31 but it could not be prepared. Kumar said in the letter that "he has been directed" to get a department-wise list of non-performing employees as soon as possible. Indianmandarins has learnt that officials have been asked to check the last 10 years service records of targeted officers and employees, essentially those who are aged 50 years and above. The officers and employees will be screened not only for their service entries but also for reputation within the department. Many officers fear that the exercise may turn into a witch hunt.