The AAP government has come down heavily on its heads of departments for causing delay in implementation of development work and social welfare measures by not exercising powers delegated to them as p
The AAP government has come down heavily on its heads of departments for causing delay in implementation of development work and social welfare measures by not exercising powers delegated to them as per rules in the city.
In his first strongly-worded office memorandum, chief secretary K.K. Sharma said many HoDs were not exercising their powers and were sending files to the finance department for concurrence and that was leading to a delay in implementation of developmental work, social welfare measures and other programmes.
The memorandum, approved by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, said: “It has come to the notice of the government that many HoDs are not exercising the powers delegated to them and they routinely send the files to the finance department for concurrence which leads to delay in implementation of development work, social welfare measures and other programmes. It has also come to notice that the matters like acceptance of lowest bid in an open tender are being referred to the ED.”
Quoting the provisions laid down in Rule-26 of Transaction of Business of Government of NCT of Delhi, read with Rule-5 ibid, the memorandum said that the departments were required to consult the finance department only in those matters in which FD’s prior concurrence was necessary, whether such proposals have financial bearing involving expenditure or otherwise.
The chief secretary also drew attention of all his HoDs towards provisions laid down in Chapter 5 of the General Financial Rules, 2005 (Procurement of Goods and Services) wherein it has been stated that every authority delegated with the financial powers of procuring goods or services in public interest shall have the responsibility and accountability to bring efficiency, economy and transparency in matters relating to public procurement, and for fair and equitable treatment of suppliers, and promotion of competition in public procurement. “Hence the proposals which are within the delegated powers of HoDs shall not be referred to the FD for seeking concurrence.”
The issuing of the terse memorandum to all the HoDs has once again brought to light the fact that many senior bureaucrats were not taking any decision in writing as they fear that they could face the wrath of the Centre for not following Transaction of Business Rules. Also, severe shortage of officers of the rank of principal secretaries and secretaries had slowed down the decision-making process in the city.
