Delhi govt asks officers to promptly respond to MPs, MLAs; warns of action against violators

The Delhi government has directed its officers to promptly respond to communications from Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), warning that failure to do so will invite disciplinary action.

The directive was issued after Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta raised concerns over officers ignoring messages, phone calls, and letters from MLAs. In a letter to Chief Secretary Dharmendra, Gupta highlighted the non-responsive behavior of some officers, prompting the government to take the issue seriously.

Following this, the General Administration Department (GAD) issued a circular emphasizing strict compliance with the engagement protocols while dealing with MPs and MLAs. The circular, signed by Additional Chief Secretary (GAD) Navin Kumar Choudhary, stressed that any deviation from these instructions would result in disciplinary action, which would also impact the performance evaluation of the concerned officer.

The circular also referred to a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) established by the GAD in 2020, which outlines guidelines for official dealings with MPs and MLAs. According to the SOP, communications from MPs and MLAs should be acknowledged within 15 days and followed by a reply within the next 15 days.

Additionally, if a letter is addressed to a minister or secretary, they should personally respond whenever possible. The information requested by an MP or MLA should be provided unless it is of a confidential nature that cannot be disclosed.

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The government stressed that such complaints from MPs and MLAs should not arise in the future, and strict compliance with these guidelines is expected from all officers.

(With inputs from PTI)