Numerous instructions from GAD fail to yield desirable results
Step imperative to bring accountability, efficiency in functioning
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 6: Annual administrative inspection of all the Government offices is the least priority in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir despite the fact that such an exercise is imperative to point out shortcomings and take corrective measures to bring much-needed accountability and efficiency in the functioning.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that from time to time the General Administration Department issued formal instructions to all the Administrative Secretaries to ensure strict compliance to the rules, which lay thrust on administrative inspection of the subordinate offices so that general functioning of the offices is improved up to the desired level.
Even the issue was debated in numerous meetings of the Committees of Secretaries chaired by the Chief Secretary from time to time and it was observed that the administrative inspections of the subordinate offices, as required under rules, are not being conducted regularly.
“Due to lack of administrative control over the subordinate offices, general functioning of some of the offices has not been found up to the mark”, the Chief Secretary had observed in such meetings. Accordingly, instructions were issued for strict compliance to Circular No.18-GAD dated September 9, 2010.
Vide this circular, the Administrative Secretaries were advised to ensure conduct of regular administrative inspections, at least once in a year, of all the subordinate units as per the laid down mechanism and progress be continuously reviewed at the apex level.
As per the mechanism, each Administrative Department is required to conduct administrative inspection of all Heads of the Departments and all Autonomous/Corporate units at UT and Divisional levels. Similarly, the Heads of the Departments are required to conduct administrative inspection of provincial level offices and provincial level offices are supposed to inspect district level offices. Likewise, the district level offices are supposed to conduct inspection of block/tehsil level offices.
Even the departments were given the permission to devise their own suitable formats keeping in view their requirements as also nature of their working.
“However, annual administrative inspection of all the Government offices in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir continues to remain least priority for majority of the Administrative Secretaries”, sources informed, adding “as far as current year is concerned only one or two Administrative Departments have constituted teams for carrying out administrative inspections and no seriousness has been shown by others”.
“The compliance is very poor at the level of Heads of the Departments and down the line as a result of which the objective of pointing out shortcomings in the functioning of offices and taking corrective measures could not be achieved”, they further said, adding “the non-serious approach is notwithstanding the fact that provision for such an exercise in the rules was kept in order to bring transparency and efficiency in the functioning of the departments”.
They further said, “the administrative inspection of those departments which are dealing directly with public like Revenue assumes much importance keeping in view the complaints of the general people about inconvenience in obtaining services”, adding “because of absolutely no focus on regular administrative inspections, majority of the Administrative Secretaries and Heads of the Departments are even not aware about the implementation status of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Guarantee Act (JKPSGA)”.
In the circular of September 9, 2010, special emphasis was also laid on quarterly reconciliation of receipts/payments, watching of expenditure within the budgetary provisions, watching of re-appropriation of funds, regular verification of drawals from the treasuries, rendition of replies to audit reports of Principal Accountant General and Directorate of Audit and Inspections, settlement of draft paras and timely rendition of accounts to various quarters.
“However, these aspects are also not receiving due attention from the majority of the Administrative Secretaries and Heads of the Departments”, sources said and stressed that Government should take some strict measures so that administrative inspections are conducted regularly and reports are analyzed at the highest level.
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