Governor delegated powers to Chief Secretary, Admin Secretaries

Srinagar, Jul 18 (UNI) In order to sharply reduce delays in decision-making and to ensure prompt action on various matters of urgent public importance, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Bohra today delegated powers to the Chief Secretary and Administrative Secretaries of different departments.

The decision to decentralise administrative and financial powers was taken in-principle during the first meeting of the Administrative Secretaries presided over by the Governor, on July 11, the first working day after the proclamation of the Governor's rule in the state.

Mr Vohra had asked Chief Secretary Sharn Singh Kapur to work out a detailed framework of decentralization of powers at two levels a general delegation that would apply to all departments and the other involving department specific delegations.

According to an official spokesman, the Chief Secretary has been empowered to accord administrative approval to all kinds of works projects under Plan and non-Plan costing over Rs five crore up to Rs 20 crore, with the concurrence of the Planning and Finance departments.

He will also effect transfers, postings and ajustments of officers up to the level of the Time Scale KAS officers and equivalent, besides, sanctioning deputation of officers of the level of Secretaries and above or equivalent for Government Business and trainings outside the state but within the country.

Mr Kapur has also been empowered to sanction all cases of relaxation of Medical Attendance Cum Allowance Rules; relaxation in age and qualification for regularisation of daily rated workers and condonation of breaks in qualifying services for regularisation in accordance with the provisions of SRO 64 of 1994 within the numbers registered with Finance Department.

He will also approve formulation of departmental Recruitment Rules (Gazetted and Non-Gazetted) after these have been cleared by Public Service Commission, ARI Trainings and Law Department, as the case may be.

The Chief Secretary is also empowered to sanction all types of leaves of officers of the level of Secretaries and above, besides, accord approval to voluntary retirement and acceptance of resignations of Government Employees in accordance with the Rules.

He has also been authorised to impose minor punishments in accordance with the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules.

As regards the delegation of powers in favour of Administrative Secretaries of different departments, the spokesman said they have been empowered to accord administrative approval in respect of individual works costing upto Rs five crore as prescribed in the Book of Financial Powers.

They have also been authorised to release scheme and object wise funds as allowed by the Finance and Planning and Development departments in favour of the departments under their administrative control.

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