Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, Jan 12: For ensuring smooth conduct of Government business, Governor N N Vohra today delegated powers of Ministers to the Chief Secretary and Administrative Secretaries.
Official sources said that the Governor, in exercise of powers conferred upon him under Section 2 of the Jammu and Kashmir Delegation of Powers Act, 2015 has delegated the powers at various levels of the Government, for ensuring smooth running of the official machinery.
“Besides, special powers have also been conferred to eight top officials including the Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, Principal Secretary Finance, Administrative Secretary Revenue; Administrative Secretary Higher Education, Administrative Secretary Labour and Employment, Administrative Secretary Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department and Administrative Secretary Law Department”, sources asserted.
The powers have been delegated by virtue of SRO notification No. 7 dated January 12, this year issued by the Secretary GAD, M A Bukhari, copy of which is in possession of EXCELSIOR.
Sources remarked that vesting the powers of Ministers to the Administrative Heads has put at rest the speculations regarding the appointment of Advisors to Governor.
“All the Administrative Secretaries of Departments shall exercise the powers of Ministers in respect of administrative and financial matter of their departments”, says the notification.
The document says, “the administrative and financial powers not delegated to the Administrative Secretaries, shall be exercised by the Chief Secretary. The cases to be submitted to the Governor for approval shall also be submitted through the Chief Secretary.”
“All other powers, not specifically delegated to the Chief Secretary or the Administrative Secretaries, shall be exercised by the Governor”, the notification added.
The SRO, while spelling out the powers delegated to the Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khandey says, “all cases related to accord of administrative approval to all kinds of works under plan or non-plan category costing over Rs 7.5 crore upto Rs 20 crore, with the concurrence of Planning and Finance Department will be routed through his office.”
“The Chief Secretary’s Office shall provide funds authorisation in cases under Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Central Mega Flagship Schemes, TFC grants, Plan Schemes having financial implications above Rs 50 crores”, says the document.
“In cases where administrative and financial powers have been delegated in various codes/manuals in favour of All departments/Administrative departments/Specified Departments, the same shall be exercised by the concerned Administrative Secretaries with the approval of Chief Secretary”, it says adding, “it shall also deal with all cases of exemption under GST, Entry Tax and Toll Tax”.
The office of Chief Secretary would also be responsible for transfer and posting of officers upto the level of Time Scale of KAS officers and equivalent.
Chief Secretary would also be responsible for according sanction for deputation of officers of the level of Secretaries and above or equivalent for Government Business/ training outside the State.
Elaborating over the special powers conferred to the eight Administrative Secretaries, the SRO says, “Administrative Secretary Planning would be authorisation authority for release of additionalities upto Rs 25 lacs in favour of various Departments and DDCs under district plans and for release of additional upto Rs 50 lacs in respect of State Plan”.
Principal Secretary Planning would also authorise for re-appropriation of funds from one approved scheme to another within a sector, approval of Annual Plans, approval of revised estimates and re-appropriation of funds for on-going schemes under BADP”.
Administrative Secretary, Finance would be authorised to contract all Open Market Borrowings (OMBs) as approved in the ‘Scheme of Financing for Annual Plan 2014-15’ and would arrange for temporary liquidity mismatch by taking OD route with J&K Bank within permissible limit. The office would also raise institutional finance as per the approved Scheme of Financing for Annual Plan 2014-15 as required from time to time.
“This office would also authorise funds under Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Central Mega Flagship Schemes, TFC grants, Plan upto a monetary limit of Rs 50 crore in each case and revalidation of such funds authorized previously, without any monetary limit”, says the order.
Principal Secretary, Finance would also sanction additionalities under non-plan object heads of expenditure except under SRE, CRF, ‘Maintenance’, ‘Wages’, ‘Outsourcing of Upkeep’ and other purpose specific provisions, upto 10% of the budgeted provisions for justified reasons as also to make re-appropriate of non-plan funds.
Administrative Secretary Revenue shall be responsible for issuing notifications under Section 6, 7 and 17 of Land Acquisition Act and also hold assignment of charge of Administrator Auqaf to various officers of the State Government in respect of various tehsil Auqaf Committees.
Administrative Secretary, Higher Education Department would release grant-in-aid to the Universities, Colleges and other institutions strictly in accordance with the authorisation of Planning and Finance Departments. This office would also grant NOC for establishment of private institution of Higher/ Technical Education or additional of course in accordance with the policy.
Administrative Secretary, Law Department would be responsible for filing of appeals and LPAs.
Administrative Secretary, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution would be issuing authority for license of retail fair price shop and retail kerosene oil license.
Administrative Secretary School Education Department would be responsible for all issues of implementation of SSA, RMSA and other Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Mid-day Meal Scheme, Total Literacy Campaigns and recognition of private schools.
Special Secretary, GAD has been conferred powers to make transfers, posting of Under Secretaries, Administrative Officers of J&K Administrative Officers (Gazetted) Service and Private Secretaries and equivalent officers. The office shall also approve promotions of eligible Under Secretaries, Administrative Officers and Private Secretaries for a period not exceeding six months pending regularization with the concurrence of PSC.
“Administrative Secretary, GAD shall also sanction deputation of officers up to the level of Special Secretaries or equivalent for Government Business and training outside country”, says the order.
Elaborating over the Financial Powers of the Administrative Secretaries, the SRO says, “they shall accord administrative approval of individual works costing upto Rs 7.5 crores and release funds in favour of their departments”.