STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, in a note written to all additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, commissioner & secretaries, and secretaries of all departments under the state government regarding the Assam Rules of Executive Business, 2023, advised them to follow the rules ‘scrupulously.’
In the letter written by Chief Secretary Paban Kr. Borthakur to the officers at the secretary level, it was stated that the Assam Rules of Executive Business, 2023, were notified on September 1, 2023. He asked the senior officers in the state government departments to go through the rules ‘meticulously’ and follow the provisions in their ‘letter and spirit.’
The Chief Secretary also sought to invite their attention to the parts relating to ‘Procedure of the Cabinet’, ‘Departmental Disposal of Business’, and ‘Interdepartmental Consultations’ contained in the Rules and requested that they follow the provisions scrupulously.
In the part ‘Procedure of the Cabinet’, it is mentioned in connection with the Chief Secretary that “The Chief Secretary, or such other officer not below the rank of Additional Chief Secretary, as the Chief Minister may appoint, shall be the Secretary to the Cabinet.”
In the part connected to ‘Departmental Disposal of Business,’ it is instructed that a set of standing orders should be left with the Secretary of the Department as to “what matters should be brought to his personal notice and what other matters may be disposed of at the level of the Secretary of the Department concerned”.
It is also mentioned in the Rules regarding ‘Interdepartmental Consultations’ that the “Secretary of the Department shall ensure that the consultation with other Department is made only where such consultation is required as per disposal of business as specified (in Part-IV) to avoid any unwarranted consultation resulting in avoidable delay in disposal of the case.” There is a complete set of rules regarding consultations with other departments, and separate rules for consultations exist for every department.
The letter also drew their attention to the provision of Rule 28(1) pertaining to cases to be submitted to the Chief Secretary, according to which: (a) The Chief Secretary shall be kept apprised of all important decisions by various departments; (b) The Chief Secretary is the Head of the Administrative Machinery in the State and is responsible for ensuring the efficiency of the functioning of the entire State Administration. His mediation shall be sought as far as practicable in all the cases where there is a difference of opinion between the Secretaries; and (c) All memoranda presented by government officials to the Governor shall be sent with the comments of the Administrative Department to the Chief Secretary, who shall submit them for orders to the Chief Minister and the Governor.
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