L-G tells secretaries to authenticate orders

New Delhi, February 18

L-G Anil Baijal has directed secretaries and principal secretaries of the Delhi Government to authenticate all orders to be executed in the name of LG, failing which strict action, including recovery of financial loss to the exchequer, would be taken.

In other words, any order to be issued in pursuance of a decision taken by the AAP government in the name of LG will have to be validated by the officer concerned.

The written notice from Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was sent to all department heads  and secretaries to Delhi ministers. This assumes significance coming from the backdrop of frequent tussles between the LG and the Kejriwal government over a range of issues and decisions. As per the notice, to be legally valid, all executive decisions taken by the competent authority and orders issued for their execution thereof have to be “authenticated by an officer authorised to do so under the Government of NCT of Delhi (Authentication of Orders and other Instruments) (Amendments) Rules, 1992 as amended in 2000”.

The LG has also directed that any officer, who disregards the provisions of law/rules, shall do so at his own risk and will be liable for appropriate action by the competent authority, including disciplinary proceedings and recovery of financial loss caused to the government exchequer. — TNS