Officials told to get orders issued in L-G’S name verified

The LG has directed that any officer, who disregards the provisions of law/rules shall do so at his own risk and will be liable for appropriate action by the competent authority, including recovery of financial losses.

A COMMUNICATION FROM L-G OFFICE

NEW DELHI : Officials of the Delhi government have been asked to get orders executed in the name of the Lieutenant Governor authenticated by secretaries and principal secretaries, a written communication by chief secretary Anshu Prakash to all bureaucrats stated.

The circular also stated that officials failing to do so will face ‘strict action,’ including recovery of financial loss caused to the exchequer.

Senior government officials said the directive was issued after the L-G’S offices found that a few government orders was sent in the name of the L-G without keeping the principal secretary or the special secretary in loop.

In the communication to all heads of departments and secretaries to Delhi ministers, earlier this month, Prakash said, “To have legal validity, all executive decisions have to be taken by the authority competent to take such decisions, and orders issued in pursuance thereof have to be authenticated by an officer authorised to do so under the Government of NCT of Delhi (Authentication of Orders and other Instruments) (Amendments) Rules, 1992 as amended in the year 2000.”

It also states, “The L-G has directed that any officer, who disregards the provisions of law/rules shall do so at his own risk and will be liable for appropriate action by the competent authority, including disciplinary proceedings and recovery of financial loss to the the government exchequer as a result of his/her action.”

This could be another flashpoint between the AAP government and the Lieutenant Governor who in the past have been at loggerheads over a range of issues and decisions, including transfer and postings of officers.

The amendments (made in 2000) i n Authentication of Orders and Other Instruments Rule 1992, states, “Orders and other instruments made and executed in the name of Lt Governor shall be authenticated in such manner as may be specified in rules to be made by the Lt Governor and the validity of an order or instrument which is so authenticated shall not be called in question.”

In 2016, the Delhi High Court had stamped the primacy of lieutenant governor in the city administration.

The government has challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court.

Recently, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that he hoped that the apex court would deliver its judgement in his government’s favour.