MLAs cannot chair officials’ meetings: Haryana Govt

Chandigarh, January 15

Legislators cannot chair meetings of officials, said a Haryana Government circular issued here today. The MLAs can, however, seek information from officials about various development projects.

“An MLA intending to elicit any information regarding any development project can meet the official concerned at the PWD Rest House in that regard. However, the MLA cannot chair a meeting of officials,” the government circular said. The circular, which amended circular dated August 25, 2023, said from now on, the MLAs concerned of various assembly constituencies would be informed about the “open darbar” being held by the DC, but not “invited” to that, as was done earlier. Rohtak MLA BB Batra has termed the government move as an “eyewash” asking why the BJP-JJP government was hell-bent on decimating the powers of elected representatives. “We are accountable to the people, while the officials are not,” Batra said demanding that the legislators be allowed to hold officials’ meetings.

At the Winter Session of the Assembly, Congress MLAs, led by Batra, had termed the August 23, 2023, circular as “derogatory” and an insult to MLAs. They had demanded its withdrawal.