Port Blair, Dec 01: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has demanded to post separate Head of Departments in each Department and to end the practice of designating Secretary and Director of the department. In a letter sent to the Lt. Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. KG Das, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee has said that some of the departments under the Administration are now functioning without any Head of Department and the Secretaries of the concerned departments are holding the additional charges of the Head of Departments. To cite a specific case, Mr. KG Das has pointed out that the Secretary (Education) whose office has been set up in the Shiksha Sadan at VIP Road is holding the additional charge of the Director of Education. The functioning of the department is found adversely affected as the Secretary (Edn) does not find time to sit in the Directorate of Education and dispose of the files.
CPI (M) has further informed the Lt. Governor that the Secretary (Transport) doubles up as the Secretary-cum-Director of Transport. The present incumbent is away from Port Blair for the last few weeks as he is holding the additional charge of the Deputy Commissioner, North & Middle Andaman District. The functioning of the Transport Department is also found to have been adversely affected due to the above situation, CPI (M) said.
CPI (M) has further pointed out that the Secretary (RD, LSG & ULB) is holding the additional charge of the Director (RD, LSG & ULB). Besides, he is also holding the additional charge of the Secretary (Coop)-cum-Registrar of Cooperative Societies.
CPI (M) told the Lt. Governor that the same person holding both the posts of Administrative Secretary and Head of Department will lead to serious mal-functioning of the department. The general public and government employees of the department are also denied of the opportunity of presenting their grievances before the Administrative Secretary if both the charges are held by one person.
Mr. KG Das requested the Lt. Governor to look into this matter very seriously and take appropriate steps to post Heads of Departments exclusively for the departments by not combining the posts of Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments so as to ensure proper functioning of the departments and also to have one more opportunity to the general public and government employees to appeal against the decisions of the Heads of Departments.
