Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tells ministers: Clear files within 48 hours

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asked all ministers to clear files, as much as possible, within 48 hours. This directive is aimed at the smooth functioning of the administration.

According to official sources, before the start of the agenda of the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, the Chief Minister asked all ministers to clear files from their respective tables within 48 hours provided they were not out of station or the files had no legal or other hiccups.

Sarma also made the ministers amply clear that no minister would stay or modify transfer orders of officials without approval from the Chief Minister. He said that the officials would have to work in a mission mood.

These instructions bear significance as forty per cent of works in the secretariat is dealing with transfer and posting of officials, staying and modifying such orders etc.

The stagnancy of files either in the tables of officers or that of ministers is a tradition of sorts in the state secretariat. This practice is notorious for delaying various schemes and projects in the state.

Some ministers have the habit of writing phrases on files like 'put up, discuss, seen, etc.,' and sending them back to the officers. In their turn, the officers, as often as not, send them back to their lower-rung officials, or leave them to gather dust on their tables. This practice also delays projects and schemes.

There are standing rules that the authorities should transfer officials after every three years. However, if the Chief Minister feels the continuation of an official at a posting more than three years, he can do so. He can also transfer an official before the completion of three years in a particular place if he thinks that necessary.

According to rules, transfer and posting of officials should be from December to January, not throughout the year. However, with recommendations from ministers, such rules get violated.

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