PIL seeks proper procedure for aid and advice to Andhra Pradesh CM

A petition has been filed before the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh High Court by the state’s former Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao, contending that the office of the Chief Minister is functioning “inappropriately”..The PIL contends that the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat Office Manual and the Andhra Pradesh Government Business Rules and Secretariat Instructions, which exempt bureaucrats working in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) from keeping records of advice to tendered to the Chief Minister, is detrimental to public interest ..Rao has sought directions to the Andhra Pradesh Government to amend the said rules so that they apply to the CMO as well. He also contends that secrecy has no room in the public administration process..”The word “Secrecy” has no place in Public Administration process after Enactment of The Right to Information Act. Every Government activity should be transparent.”.The petitioner relies on applications made in person under the Right to Information Act, to illustrate that the process of maintaining records of advice rendered is followed both by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Governor’s Office..“…it could be unequivocally submitted that in all other Offices, right from the District Offices which are covered by the District Office Manual to PMO, everywhere, Officers are responsible for the noting they make on the files in terms of their signatures except in the Office of Hon’ble CM.”.The petition, which is likely to come up for hearing on October 31, also questions the need for senior level officials in the CMO if their duty is merely to obtain signatures from the Chief Minister..“It is further submitted that if the purpose of CMO is just to put up a file for the consideration of the Hon’ble Chief Minister without taking any responsibility merely to obtain his signatures and send it back to the Secretariat, then, a mere Section Officer should be sufficient to assist the Hon’ble Chief Minister and posting of senior level officers in the CMO is perhaps not required.”.Read the petition:.Click here to download the Bar & Bench Android App