CS asks Admn Secys to furnish inputs expeditiously
*Step to address issues of public after Darbar Move
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 18: To ensure that people do not face problems in getting their issues resolved following Darbar Move, the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is working out modalities for the revival of Summer-Winter Secretariat mechanism and Chief Secretary has sought inputs in this regard from all the Administrative Secretaries.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that as the Darbar Move from Srinagar to Jammu for the Winter Season 2020-21 is scheduled at the end of this month, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has passed directions regarding stationing of few Administrative Secretaries at Civil Secretariat Srinagar throughout the Winter Season so as to address the issues of the general public due to ensuing harsh winter.
Accordingly, detailed discussion was held in a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam few days back in order to translate the directions of the Lieutenant Governor into reality.
“The modalities are being worked out to either station the Administrative Secretaries on roaster or on voluntary basis and the Chief Secretary has asked all the Administrative Secretaries to furnish their inputs on the same”, sources further said, adding “stationing of few Administrative Secretaries at Srinagar following Darbar Move amounts to revival of the Summer-Winter Secretariat mechanism as similar arrangement will have to be made at the time of shifting of Darbar from Jammu to Srinagar next year”.
They disclosed that entire exercise in this regard will be completed within next few days so that necessary orders are issued for stationing of few Administrative Secretaries at Srinagar Secretariat well before closure of Darbar at summer capital.
“If the Government revives the mechanism of Summer-Winter Secretariat that would be a major relief for the people of either of the divisions of the Union Territory, who otherwise face difficulties in projecting and getting their issues resolved whenever the Darbar shifts from one capital to another “, sources said.
“The people of Kashmir valley face immense difficulties during harsh winter while as harsh summer puts inhabitants of Jammu region to many problems as such the revival of Summer-Winter Secretariat mechanism would be of immense help for both the divisions”, they further said.
It is pertinent to mention here that the concept of Summer Secretariat and Winter Secretariat was introduced by the then Chief Minister of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir in 2006 and since then Government order for establishment of the Summer/Winter Secretariat every year was used to be issued more than a week ahead of the Darbar move and the same used to start functioning on the very first working day after the closure of offices.
The Summer/Winter Secretariat was having a staff strength of one officer of the level of Special Secretary/Additional Secretary, two Deputy Secretaries/ Under Secretaries, Section Officer/Head Assistant/ Senior Assistant/Junior Assistant etc.
However, the practice was stopped by the PDP-BJP Coalition Government in the year 2015 and thereafter this concept didn’t receive administration’s attention.
In the month of June this year, the Government divided departments at the Civil Secretariat level between two capitals of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir so that people of either of the two provinces don’t face any difficulty in projecting their issues or grievances before the Government departments particularly during the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
By way of a Government Order No.649-JK(GAD) dated June 17, 2020, it was directed that 19 departments along with their Administrative Secretaries will function from the Srinagar Secretariat and 18 departments from the Jammu Secretariat.
It was further directed that the Administrative Secretaries will retain the main record of their departments at their respective Secretariats and those holding office at Jammu Secretariat will ensure suitable number of staff of their respective departments at Srinagar Secretariat and similar arrangements will be made by the Administrative Secretaries holding office at Srinagar Secretariat.
However, by way of different modifications in the order of June 2020 the Government put an end to the practice of operating Civil Secretariat at Jammu and Srinagar simultaneously by dividing the departments and directed all the Administrative Secretaries to remain present in Srinagar till October 30, when the Darbar will close at summer capital of the Union Territory.
EXCELSIOR in its edition dated September 26, 2020 had suggested that the Government should either start the practice of Summer-Winter Secretariat or some alternate mechanism be evolved so that people don’t face difficulties in projecting grievances before the Administrative Departments.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
