Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal, an IAS officer of the 1990 batch from the West Bengal cadre, has directed all state government departments to submit their proposals for cabinet consideration by November 18, ahead of the next cabinet meeting scheduled for November 23.
In an order issued on November 11, the chief secretary highlighted delays in the submission and processing of cabinet proposals at various administrative levels within government departments. He noted that several proposals meant for cabinet consideration were frequently getting held up because of delays in departmental processing.
The directive aims to streamline the process, ensure timely submission of proposals and prevent administrative delays in cabinet-related matters.
Departments Asked to Submit Proposals by November 18
According to the order, all government departments must ensure that their cabinet proposals are submitted by November 18 for consideration at the November 23 cabinet meeting.
Departments have been instructed to prepare and forward proposals within the stipulated deadline so that they can be examined and processed before the meeting.
The chief secretary emphasised the need for timely coordination among departments to avoid last-minute delays in placing important matters before the state cabinet.
Three-Working-Day Deadline Introduced for Cabinet Proposals
The November 11 order also establishes a timeline for future cabinet meetings.
It directs that every proposal, complete in all respects, must be placed before the chief secretary and the cabinet secretary at least three working days before the scheduled cabinet meeting.
The requirement is intended to provide sufficient time for the examination and processing of proposals before they are taken up for cabinet consideration.
Senior Departmental Secretaries to Be Personally Responsible
The order also fixes responsibility on senior officials of the nodal departments for ensuring timely submission of cabinet proposals.
Accordingly, the additional chief secretary, principal secretary or secretary of the concerned nodal department will be personally responsible for coordinating with other departments and ensuring that the relevant files are submitted within the prescribed timeline.
The directive seeks to strengthen accountability at the departmental level and improve coordination in the processing of cabinet proposals.
With the November 23 cabinet meeting approaching, all state government departments have been asked to adhere to the November 18 deadline and follow the revised timeline for future meetings.
