The Delhi government on Friday directed officers to promptly respond to communications from MPs and MLAs, warning them of disciplinary action against those who fail to do so. This comes a day after Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta flagged non-responsive behaviour of a section of officers.

“The matter has been viewed seriously by the chief secretary,” said a circular issued by the General Admini- stration Department (GAD) of the Delhi government. 

The government has issued comprehensive instructions with regard to engagement and protocols to be observed while dealing with MLAs and MPs, it said.

The instructions need to be strictly adhered to in letter and spirit, said the circular issued by Additional Chief Secretary (GAD) Naveen Kumar Choudhary to all additional CSs, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries,Head of Departments asking non compliance of instructions will attract disciplinary action against the officials concerned. “There should be no occasion that MLAs or Members of Parliament are constrained to make such complaints. Non-compliance to these instructions will invite commensurate dlisciplinary action and will be an important input in evaluation of the officer concerned,” it said.

The circular said, “The Delhi Vidhan Sabha Speaker has addressed the communication to the Chief Secretary bringing into notice non-acknowledgement of letters, phone-calls and messages of members of Delhi Legislative Assembly by the officers. The matter has been viewed seriously by the Chief Secretary. The government has issued comprehensive instructions with regard to engagement and protocols to be observed while dealing with the MLAs or the MPs.”

The circular further said, “I am directed to convey that instructions be strictly adhered to in letter and spirit. There should be no occasion that the MLAs or MPs are constrained to make such complaints. Non-compliance of these instructions will invite commensurate disciplinary action and will be an important input in evaluation of the concerned officer.”

The circular also shared a standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding official dealings of administration and MPs and MLAs, prepared by the GAD in 2020.  It laid down that communications received from an MP or MLA need to be promptly attended. 

A communication addressed to a minister or secretary, should be replied by themselves as far as possible.

The information sought by an MP or MLA should be supplied, unless it is of such nature that it would be denied to him, said the SOP.

Further, it said that each communication received from an MP or MLA should be acknowledged within 15 days, followed by a reply within the next 15 days.

The bureaucratic wing of Delhi government has, on many occasions, seen tussle with the political wins during the previous government and the recent controversy after the Speaker’s letter provided an opportunity to the opposition party.

The AAP leaders have alleged that the BJP, while sitting in opposition, supported the officials for not coordinating with ministers and MLAs.  

The Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure lays down instructions for prompt disposal of references from Members of Parliament and State Legislatures.  It instructs that communications received from a Member of Parliament/State Legislature should be attended to promptly.  Any Information sought by a Member of Parliament and State Legislature should be supplied, unless it is of such a nature that it would have been denied to him, it instructs further.

Gupta in a letter to Chief Secretary Dharmendra said he was informed that some officers did not even acknowledge communications from MLAs in the form of letters, phone calls and messages.