Face2News/Chandigarh
Since Dec, 2021, Sanjeev Kaushal, IAS (HY: 1986) has been posted as Chief Secretary, Haryana.
In his complete official designation, he is being mentioned as Chief Secretary to Govt, Haryana, General Administration, Personnel, Training, Parliamentary Affairs, Vigilance, Administrative Reforms Departments & Secretary Incharge of Plan Coordination. This full designation is also being currently displayed on the official website of Chief Secretary, Haryana.
Meanwhile, an Advocate at Punjab & Haryana High Court, Hemant Kumar has today written to Haryana Government for effecting appropriate change in the aforementioned official designation/nomenclature of Chief Secretary, Haryana in strict compliance of and in consonance with Business of the Haryana Government (Allocation) Rules, 1974 as amended till date.
The Advocate asserts that the aforementioned 1974 Business Allocation Rules have been made by the Governor of Haryana in exercise of the powers conferred by Clauses (2) and (3) of Article 166 of the Constitution of India and they have also been amended from time to time and the most recent on 1st Jan, 2023. The Advocate asserts that the aforementioned 1974 Business Allocation Rules have been made by the Governor of Haryana in exercise of the powers conferred by Clauses (2) and (3) of Article 166 of the Constitution of India and they have also been amended from time to time and the most recent on 1st Jan, 2023.
Hemant has written that as per ibid 1974 Rules both Vigilance as well as Administrative Reforms are not separate Departments (Portfolios) but they rather come under the Head i.e. General Administration Department.
Hence, when the word/term General Administration is itself mentioned in the designation of Chief Secretary, there is literally no need for further mentioning of Vigilance and Administrative Reforms which actually are Sub-Heads and as such not Departments but part and parcel of the General Administration Department itself.
Pertinent that as per latest amendment dated 1st Jan 2023 in Business of the Haryana Government (Allocation) Rules, 1974, even Administration Reforms which earlier used to be mentioned as separate Sub-Head i.e. (F) under the Head of General Administration Department has been omitted and the entries beneath therein have been transferred to Sub-Head (B) i.e. General.
As on date i.e. after enforcement of the latest aforementioned amendment, there are a total of six Sub-Heads viz. Political, General, Vigilance, Foreign Cooperation, Citizen Resources Information & Human Resources under the Main Head i.e. General Administration in the Business of the Haryana Government (Allocation) Rules, 1974.
Hence in view of the above, both Vigilance and Administrative Reforms ought not to be mentioned in the official designation/nomenclature of Chief Secretary to Govt, Haryana particularly when General Administration is itself mentioned, asserted Hemant.
Similarly, the Advocate has pointed out that the Personnel and Training is one and the same Department as per Business of the Haryana Government (Allocation) Rules, 1974, hence in lieu of mentioning Personnel, Training it should be rather mentioned as Personnel & Training in the official designation of Chief Secretary.
On similar lines, since 18 Nov 2022, Pankaj Aggarwal, IAS (HY: 2000) has been given additional charge of Commissioner & Secretary to Govt Haryana, Personnel Department, hence it ought to be corrected/ rectified as Personnel & Training Department.
Also, as since 26 Aug 2022, Pankaj, IAS (HY: 2009) has been posted as Special Secretary to Government, Haryana, Personnel, Training, Vigilance and Parliamentary Affairs, Director, Training (Ex-Officio) et al. In this case too, requisite change ought to be made as hereinbefore mentioned.