Chennai: In a significant administrative reform with far-reaching implications for governance, the Tamil Nadu Government has abolished the long-standing practice of obtaining the Governor’s prior approval for appointing the Chief Secretary and the Head of Police Force (HoPF)/Director General of Police (DGP). The move effectively allows the State Government to issue appointment orders for the two highest bureaucratic positions without gubernatorial clearance.
The decision forms part of a comprehensive standing order issued by the Human Resources Management Department on July 29, 2026, marking one of the most extensive revisions to the State’s administrative delegation framework in decades. The order, issued by Chief Secretary Dr M. Sai Kumar (IAS:1990:TN), supersedes all standing orders issued between 2022 and 2025, including one promulgated as recently as January this year.
Governor’s Approval No Longer Required
Under the revised framework, the State Government has dispensed with the requirement of seeking the Governor’s approval before appointing the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police.
The move departs from the long-followed practice under the Tamil Nadu Government Business Rules, 1978, under which gubernatorial clearance was obtained before issuing appointment orders for these key constitutional and administrative positions.
Officials said the revised procedure will enable the government to complete appointments more swiftly while placing the decision-making authority squarely within the elected executive.
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Rule-35 Delegation Framework Rewritten
The July 29 standing order substantially rewrites the Rule-35 delegation framework, which governs the distribution of administrative powers within the State Government.
The revised order centralises authority by making the Chief Minister’s approval mandatory for a wide range of important administrative decisions that were previously handled at departmental or ministerial levels.
The order has been circulated to all Secretaries, Heads of Departments, the Governor’s Secretariat and the offices of Ministers, and has come into immediate effect.
Chief Minister to Oversee Key Appointments and Transfers
One of the most significant changes is the requirement that all proposals concerning senior civil servants be placed before the Chief Minister.
Files relating to:
- Secretaries to Government
- Heads of Departments
- IAS, IPS and IFS officers
- Additional Secretaries
- District Revenue Officers
- Superintendents of Police
must now be brought to the notice of the Chief Minister instead of being disposed of at the level of individual ministers or departments.
The revised framework effectively recentralises control over appointments, transfers and postings in the Chief Minister’s Office.
CM Approval Mandatory in Disciplinary Proceedings
The new standing order also strengthens the Chief Minister’s role in disciplinary matters involving senior officers.
Every stage of disciplinary proceedings against IAS, IPS and IFS officers—from initiation of action and issuance of show-cause notices to the passing of final orders—will now require the Chief Minister’s approval.
The measure is expected to bring greater central oversight over disciplinary administration involving All India Service officers.
Financial Decisions Brought Under CM’s Oversight
The order also revises the approval mechanism for major financial decisions.
Under the new framework:
- Recurring expenditure exceeding ₹2 crore will require the Chief Minister’s approval.
- Non-recurring expenditure above ₹5 crore will also need the Chief Minister’s clearance.
The Finance, Planning and Development Minister will continue to exercise powers over expenditure below these limits and most Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
In cases where differences arise between the Finance Department and administrative departments, the matter will now be referred to the Chief Minister for a final decision.
Land Acquisition and Sensitive Matters
The revised delegation framework also introduces stricter approval requirements in matters relating to land and public order.
Acquisition of more than one hectare of land for infrastructure projects, as well as transfers of land between the State and Central Governments, will require the joint approval of the Chief Minister and the Revenue Minister.
Similarly, matters involving preventive detention laws—including the National Security Act (NSA), COFEPOSA, and the Tamil Nadu Goondas Act—along with sensitive affidavits to be filed before courts, will now require the Chief Minister’s approval before action is taken.
Special Administrative Arrangements for Two Departments
The order creates separate administrative mechanisms for two departments by deviating from the standard approval process.
Service matters relating to the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department will now be handled by the Minister for School Education, Tamil Development, Information and Publicity.
Similarly, administrative matters concerning the Welfare of the Differently Abled Persons Department will be decided by the Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment.
These arrangements will cover service-related issues such as:
- Panel approvals
- Transfers and postings
- Training
- Disciplinary proceedings
Significant Shift in Administrative Governance
Administrative experts view the revised standing order as one of the most significant changes to Tamil Nadu’s governance framework in recent years.
By removing the Governor’s role in the appointment of the Chief Secretary and DGP while simultaneously expanding the Chief Minister’s authority over appointments, transfers, disciplinary proceedings, financial sanctions and land matters, the government has substantially centralised executive decision-making.
The order, which supersedes all earlier standing instructions issued between 2022 and 2025, is expected to shape the functioning of the State administration with immediate effect.
