The Delhi government has directed officers of all the government departments to respond to communications from MPs and MLAs promptly and warned them of disciplinary action against those who fail to adhere to the instructions.
The move came after the Delhi Assembly speaker Vijender Gupta wrote a letter to the chief secretary about the non-responsive behaviour of the section of officers.
“The matter has been viewed seriously by the chief secretary,” said a circular issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) of the Delhi government.
The instructions need to be strictly adhered to in letter and spirit, said the circular issued by Additional Chief Secretary (GAD) Naveen Kumar Choudhary to all additional CSs, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries,Head of Departments asking non compliance of instructions will attract disciplinary action against the officials concerned.
“There should be no occasion that MLAs or Members of Parliament are constrained to make such complaints. Non-compliance to these instructions will invite commensurate disciplinary action and will be an important input in evaluation of the officer concerned,” the circular read.
It further stated, “The Delhi Vidhan Sabha Speaker has addressed the communication to the Chief Secretary bringing into notice non-acknowledgement of letters, phone-calls and messages of members of Delhi Legislative Assembly by the officers. The matter has been viewed seriously by the Chief Secretary. The government has issued comprehensive instructions with regard to engagement and protocols to be observed while dealing with the MLAs or the MPs.”
The circular also shared a standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding official dealings of administration and MPs and MLAs, prepared by the GAD in 2020. It laid down that communications received from an MP or MLA need to be promptly attended.
A communication addressed to a minister or secretary, should be replied by themselves as far as possible.
The information sought by an MP or MLA should be supplied, unless it is of such nature that it would be denied to him, said the SOP.
Further, it said that each communication received from an MP or MLA should be acknowledged within 15 days, followed by a reply within the next 15 days.
