The Delhi Government is set to penalise erring officials who fail to attend public hearing meetings held on weekends. With the Administrative Reforms Department asking all the departmental heads to deduct half-day causal leave of such officials, the tussle between the AAP dispensation and babus’ lobby is expected to escalate.
As per the orders now, the officers who do not attend public hearings and could not explain their absence satisfactorily would be penalised. In May last year, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had directed his Ministers and officials to meet the public in their offices between 10 am and 11 am on working days without appointment.
The Administrative Department of the Delhi Government has also asked the head of departments to ensure availability of officers during public hearing timings. However, in case of absence of officers due to any emergency another officer is required to act on his or her behalf for the public hearings.
“In case of emergency/field visit duty assigned to officers, a link officer should be present to attend the public grievances between 10 am and 11 am,” the department said in a recent written communication to HODs. It also said that explanation of officers should be supported with specific valid reasons for their absence during public hearing timings.
“In case of non-satisfactory explanation received from erring officers, HODs may deduct 1/2 day Cl and the same be intimated to Administrative Reforms Department for kind perusal of competent authority,” it added.
last year, Kejriwal had ordered all the Ministers and officers except field staff to meet the public without appointment in their offices for an hour on weekdays.
Thereafter, the Chief Minister had written to lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal requesting him to hold 'Janata Darbar' on the lines of his Government and meet the people without appointment as he is directly responsible for many subjects of public dealing like the police and the DDA.
However, a Delhi Government official said on the condition of anonymity that it will help in keeping a check over those officials who deliberately fail to hold such public meetings and is indeed a good step towards ensuring accountability.