Itanagar: In a significant administrative overhaul, the Arunachal Pradesh government has bestowed upon its Deputy Commissioners (DCs) a potent new power: the authority to suspend subordinate officers across various departments for misconduct.
This landmark decision, aimed at reinforcing accountability and streamlining efficiency within the district administration, marks a decisive step towards cleaner governance in the frontier state.
The newly introduced framework empowers DCs to initiate suspensions based on the findings of preliminary inquiries. However, this authority comes with a clear mandate for due diligence. Any suspension order must be accompanied by a comprehensive report detailing the grounds for action, supported by relevant documents, and submitted to the concerned department within a strict 15-day window. This ensures transparency and prevents arbitrary use of power.
Further safeguards are built into the system. The onus is on the disciplinary authority to review the suspension within a month, either confirming or revoking the order. Should the suspension not be confirmed within this 30-day period, it will automatically stand void, providing a check against undue delays or prolonged suspensions. Additionally, DCs are now responsible for preparing and submitting a draft charge sheet, complete with supporting evidence, within 90 days, paving the way for formal departmental proceedings.
This reform is widely anticipated to usher in an era of heightened discipline among government employees and significantly empower district-level officers to take swift and decisive action in the larger public interest. The order, officially signed by Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta, IAS, has been circulated to all departments for immediate implementation, signaling the government’s commitment to ushering in a more responsive and responsible administration.
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