Chidambaram issues mandatory circular for Home Min staff

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After being targeted by the Opposition for allegedly coming to the rescue of a hotelier, charged under various cases of cheating and forgery, the home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram has finally issued a circular, making mandatory to show him all communications, which require his clearance.

It has also come to the notice of the ministry that in many cases clearances were being given by officials on the minister's behalf, without even showing him the draft of the documents. Strong actions is expected to be taken following any violation of the diktat.

"Sometimes communications are issued by officers with the statement that ''this issues with the approval of the home secretary'' or ''this issues with the approval of the home minister''.

''It has come to the notice that in many such cases the draft of the letter is not put up to the home secretary/ home minister for prior approval," says the circular issues by the MHA to all senior officers and all its wings.

The ministry has made it clear that in all such cases, where the approval of the home minister or the home secretary is not required, the letter should normally be issued 'under the signature and on the responsibility of the officer who issues it'.

Government officials confessed that the practice of incorporating the minister or secretary's name, in issuing letters came into being after it was noticed that the 'harmless names dropping helped elicit quick responses' from tardy government departments and state governments many a times.

"But now officers will try to be more careful in issuing letters and disposing off files," an official said.

Giving clear directions to ministry officials, the circular says that ''any letter which is purported to be issued with the approval of the home secretary should be put up in draft stage to the home secretary. Likewise any letter which is purported to be issued with the approval of the home minister should be put up in draft stage to the home minister."

The ministry has said that 'strict compliance' should be ensured in this regard and all divisional
heads should sensitise their officers accordingly.

The BJP had recently demanded the sacking of the home minister holding him guilty of allegedly misusing his power to favour a former client accused in the forgery case.