Bureaucrats in Delhi Government are facing the heat from a terse message of Chief Secretary SK Srivastava. In a strongly-worded communiqué issued recently, the Chief Secretary has lambasted all the Secretaries and Principal Secretaries that their files and proposals forwarded to the lieutenant-Governor as well as the Chief Secretary himself are inadequate and do no contain clear views of the concerned administrative secretaries. Such inadequate notes have resulted in delay in taking decisions on important issues.
“A large number of proposals that are being put up to me or the l-G for approval or decision, the administrative Principal Secretaries/Secretaries have not taken adequate care to ensure that comprehensive and clear-cut proposals are put up,” said the Chief Secretary in his communication as he displayed angst on proposals being forwarded by top bureaucrats.
“It has been observed that many files which have been sent to Finance, Planning, law, Services, Administrative Reforms Departments do not contain clear views of the administrative, Secretaries resulting in delay in decision making/granting approval. Secretaries need to take pain of recording notes clearly expressing their views on important issues rather than just forwarding the notes written sometimes by very junior officials who are not able to place full facts and views of the department in the matter. This tendency is not acceptable and needs to be stopped forthwith,” Srivastava added.
Having put his points, the Chief Secretary stated that ‘there is a need for administrative secretaries to ensure that proposals that are being sent to me as well as other departments like Finance, Planning, law, services, administrative reforms have clear points on decisions with their recommendation rather than simply forwarding proposal.” “I therefore, urge all Principal Secretaries\\Secretaries to pay personal attention to ensure that they themselves record their views on files which are being sent to the Departments as well as to me for approval/decision. I expect all Principal Secretaries/Secretaries will follow the above instructions meticulously and without fail,” the Chief Secretary concluded.
Srivastava took charge as Chief Secretary of Delhi Government in the month of January this year and during his five months tenure he has made repeated appeals to the officers to improve the work culture. However, sources said, failing to get the desired result, the Chief Secretary chose to issue a written communiqué to all Heads of Department (HoDs).