NO GUARD OF HONOUR FOR ME, SAYS CHIEF SECY

LUCKNOW: Chief secretary Deepak Singhal, who has done away with the practice of accepting a guard of honour during visits to districts, on Saturday asked officials to give up traditional working style of holding too many meetings.

Asking his colleagues to dispose of issues on priority to ensure quick delivery of services to public, Singhal said: “Senior officials would have to change their working style. They would have to take quick decisions for resolution of issues instead of holding routine meetings.”

He said officers who fail to dispose of files at their level within three days or are slow in decision-making should be ready to face action.

“There should be no passing of the buck. It is a common practice for senior officials to send files to finance and personnel department for clearances despite the fact that they are themselves capable to take a call on it,” he said adding that accountability of officers who do not take timely decisions would be fixed.

To address public grievances, senior officers would have to establish a direct dialogue with common people, said the chief secretary in a meeting with principal secretary, finance, Rahul Bhatnagar and secretary, finance, Mukesh Mittal.

The meeting was to ensure that government funds were utilised judiciously and in a transparent manner, particularly in matters related to medical emergencies and treatment. He said every patient should be provided with free treatment and medicines in government hospitals.