The administrative heads of State Departments would now onwards require explaining to the Government the purpose of their tours outside the State after it has come to fore that many bureaucrats would leave the headquarters for “personal visits” which would hit the work in the civil secretariat, the highest seat of governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
An order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) said the administrative Secretaries have been instructed from time to time for submission of their “tour notes” soon after the arrival from the outside State from official tours and meetings.
“While reiterating these instructions it is enjoined upon all the administrative secretaries to submit tour notes in respect of the official meetings attended outside the state, on their return to the headquarter,” said the GAD order.
The sources said the issue had come to fore on several occasions in the past as well and accordingly the Government had made it mandatory for the administrative secretaries to submit the notes of the tours to outside state.
“Of late it has been noted that many bureaucrats would leave the State in the middle of the week and spend many days spent outside the State. It has been observed that due to absence of the administrative secretaries the work in the Departments concerned would take a hit,” the sources said.
As per the latest instructions by the Government, the administrative heads of different departments would now require mentioning about date and venue of the meeting, purpose of the meeting/issues discussed, details of the previous meetings held on the issue, outcome of the meetings/decisions taken and follow-up actions required.
“The tour note should be submitted to the Chief Secretary and copy endorsed to the Principal/Secretary to the Chief Minister,” reads the order issued by the Chief Secretary BR Sharma.
A senior GAD official said the latest move was also aimed at ensuring transparency in the system and infusing accountability within the bureaucratic setup.
Explain purpose of your outside tours: Govt directs bureaucrats
