FIGHT ON TO PUT GOs BACK ON NET

IN

Out of fear of inviting the government’s anger, many government departments have stopped uploading government orders (GOs) on the website where all GOs, except confidential ones, are uploaded.

For the past few decades, it has been a common practice for all GOs to be published in the public domain, to ensure transparency and good governance. However, a few months ago, the state government shut down the website where the GOs were uploaded.

After being pressurised by political parties and activists, it has now reinstated the site. However, many departments are still not uploading the GOs issued by them.

The department of municipal administration issued the GO No. 188 on July 7, 2017, regarding the setting up of the Telangana Municipal Building Tribunal. But the GO has not been uploaded on the public domain. It is important for people to know about this GO so that they may approach the Tribunal and register their complaints regarding illegal constructions.

The department also issued the GO No. 418, on July 20, 2017, regarding the urgent works given out on the basis of nominations, without calling for tenders. This order has also not been uploaded.

The General Administration Department (GAD) has issued the GO No. 1613 regarding the visit of four senior IAS officers travelling to Japan. But this GO has not been uploaded on the site. In the same order, the government has appointed secretaries to act in place of the touring IAS officers.

K. Ramakrishna Rao, the principal secretary of the finance department, will be travelling to Japan. In his absence, N. Siva Sankar, a secretary in the department, will remain in charge. Similarly, in the absence of Navin Mittal, the secretary of department of municipal administration, Sunil Sharma, the principal secretary of the transport, roads and buildings department, will remain in charge.

In the past, GOs issued by the state government have elicited criticism from the opposition and have become controversial. The government, in turn, has directed its anger at the concerned departments. A senior IAS officer says that some departments have stopped uploading GOs because they do not want to face the government’s wrath.