Expressing displeasure, the Delhi Assembly’s Petitions Committee has summoned Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar yet again; this time, for non-submission of action taken reports (ATRs) with regard to issues such as removal of data entry operators at OPD at government hospitals, old age pension and mohalla clinics.
The chief secretary was requested to submit status reports on action taken and enquiries conducted on recommendations of the committee by June 14 and appear before it in its next sitting, according to the written communication from the Assembly Secretariat dated June 9.
“… the Committee expresses its displeasure at the lack of seriousness shown by you on such issues that had caused great suffering to the public at large,” the Assembly stated in its communication, adding that the ATRs were to be submitted by February 10.
In a reply to the Delhi Assembly secretariat on June 11, Chief Secretary office said that the draft action taken reports (ATRs) were submitted for approval of the “competent authority”. These will be furnished to the committee once the approval of the competent authority was received, it said. The Assembly had adopted three reports of the Petitions Committee in its sitting on January 19 this year.
According to the communication sent by the Assembly, Kumar had been directed to take “appropriate action” on recommendations by the committee within 30 days of the adoption of three interim reports, which pertained to “subject matters of public importance” and directly affecting the “health and well-being of the citizens of Delhi”.
The reports involved non-payment of old age pensions, a lack of medicines and diagnostic tests and non-payment of wages at mohalla clinics, and sudden removal of data entry operators from outdoor patients department (OPD) at Delhi government hospitals that had allegedly led to a “chaotic” situation.
The ATRs on the three reports were to be submitted within 30 days from February 10. Reminders were sent to the chief secretary on March 14 and May 16, but no response was received, according to the Assembly secretariat communication.
Since no ATRs were submitted from the chief secretary’s office, the committee held its sitting on June 7 to enquire about its status. However, “neither you nor anyone from your office” appeared and instead an exemption was sought on the basis of “you being out of town”, the letter read.
“I am directed by the Chairperson, Committee of Petitions to inform you that the Committee expresses its displeasure at the lack of seriousness shown by you on such issues that had caused great suffering to the public at large,” according to the communication sent by a deputy secretary.
The committee reports pertained to subjects of public importance and directly affected the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Delhi, it said.