Delegate power in different way: L-G

New Delhi: Lt-governor Anil Baijal has asked the heads of Delhi government departments and civic bodies to adopt a new practice of conferring powers by “virtue of office rather than on individual officers by name”.

This has been done to ensure that public works of departments are not affected and files, which are often pending with the authorities for delegation of power to a particular officer, should be avoided.

An official said that for instance, if a Value Added Tax Officer (VATO) is to be appointed in the trade and taxes department, an order is currently issued for his appointment and thereafter, a separate notification is also issued to enable him to take action against violators.

“For issuance of notification, a file is sent to the authorities concerned who often take two-three months to approve it. But now, as per the lieutenant-governor’s directions, an officer being appointed VATO will have power on the first day when his appointment order is issued,” said a government official.

Following the directions of Baijal, chief decretary Anshu Prakash has asked the principal secretaries and secretaries of all the Delhi government's departments and civic bodies to adopt the new practice.

There are more than 150 departments of the Delhi government.