Situation worst in respect of PUC, PAC recommendations
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 6: In utter disregard to the State Legislature as well as directives of the Government, majority of the departments are showing reluctance in timely implementation of the reports of various House Committees and submission of Action Taken Reports (ATRs) to Legislative Assembly and Council.
After being completely exposed for failure to ensure implementation of reports of House Committees and submission of Action Taken Reports, the Government through General Administration Department issued a Circular No.25 dated May 30, 2017 impressing upon all the Administrative Secretaries to ensure strict compliance to Rule 308-A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in State Legislature and implement the recommendations contained in the reports laid on the table of both the Houses from time to time.
It is pertinent to mention here that in pursuance of Rule 308-A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Legislature, the Government is bound to implement the recommendations contained in a report/interim report within six months from the date of presentation of such report/interim report in both the Houses of State Legislature.
It was also mentioned in the circular that the General Administration Department in coordination with the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs will ensure close coordination between various departments and Secretariat of Legislative Assembly as well as Legislative Council for making the functioning of committees effective, meaningful and result oriented.
“However, despite lapse of over three months there is no satisfactory improvement as far as implementation of recommendations/ submission of Action Taken Reports is concerned”, sources told EXCELSIOR while disclosing that situation in respect of recommendations/reports of Public Undertakings Committee and Public Accounts Committee is worst in comparison to other House Committees.
According to the information collected from Secretariat of Legislative Assembly, Industries and Commerce, Forest, Finance, Social Welfare Departments and State Forest Corporation have submitted Action Taken Reports up to year 2012 only while as Tourism Department has submitted ATR up to 2013 only. However, the Transport and Agriculture Departments have furnished Action Taken Reports up to 2004 only in respect of recommendations/report of Public Undertakings Committee.
As far as Public Accounts Committee is concerned, the Legislative Assembly Secretariat has received Action Taken Reports for 2001-08 period so far from PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Industries and Commerce, Agriculture Production, Transport, Public Works, Health and Medical Education, Rural Development, Home, Forest, Tourism and Power Development Departments and State Financial Corporation.
Similarly, ARI and Training Department has furnished ATR for 2007-08 only, Science and Technology for 2006-07, Social Welfare Department for 2007-09 and Sheep and Animal Husbandry Department for 2004-05.
As far as Committee on Government Assurances is concerned, sources said, “there are numerous instances of Government departments not submitting Action Taken Reports for years together”, adding “though some departments acted on the instructions of the General Administration Department but there is no perceptible improvement in furnishing of ATRs by large number of other departments”.
It is pertinent to mention here that when the Legislators raise issues of immense public importance on the floor of the Legislature and seek response from the Government the Ministers extend assurances of resolving the issues. “But, thereafter these assurances are forgotten”, sources said, adding “the dilly-dallying approach of the departments in implementing the Government assurances makes the mockery of the proceedings of the Legislature”, sources remarked.
There are numerous departments which have not submitted Action Taken Reports on the assurances extended in the State Legislative Assembly in 2014, 2015 and 2016, sources pointed out.
“No doubt some departments have started furnishing Action Taken Reports but the situation has not improved up to the desired level”, a senior officer of the Legislative Assembly Secretariat said on the condition of anonymity, adding “Speaker is being regularly updated about the progress in submission of Action Taken Reports so that issue is further taken up with the Government for necessary action”.
It is worthwhile to mention here that EXCELSIOR carried series of news-items mentioning inordinate delay on the part of Government departments in acting on the recommendations made by the House Committees. It was revealed that even the grave issues highlighted by various Committees of both the Houses of State Legislature were not taken seriously by the bureaucrats thereby defeating the objective behind framing of Committees of Legislators.
Following revelations by EXCELSIOR and flagging of issue by Chairmen of various committees Speaker Kavinder Gupta took up the issue with General Administration Department, which accordingly issued the circular although the same has yet not been taken seriously by majority of the departments.
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