One of the very common reason politicians and leaders use to avoid accurate responses is “file is awaiting clearance”. Andhra Pradesh Business Rules and Secretariat instructions state that, for any reason, if a minister is unable to clear a file within the stipulated time of seven days, then it must be endorsed by the secretary concerned. The analysis by General Administrative Department for the fiscal year 2016-17 reveals that the rule is not being followed in AP. The ministers are taking their own sweet time to clear pending files.
As per the report in Deccan Chronicle, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on an average takes 20days 23hours to clear a file and cleared as many as 5280 files. Deputy Chief Ministers Nimakayala Chinnarajappa and K E Krishnamurthy have taken on an average 3days 22hours and 5days 13hours respectively to clear a pending files. HRD Minister Ganta Srinivas Rao took on an average 33days per file, to clear his 554 files.
Endowments Minister P Manikayala Rao who allegedly visits the secretariat rarely except for cabinet meetings, took longest time to clear 11files in 77days 7hours.
Minister of Finance Yanamala Ramakrishnudu followed by municipal administration minister P Narayana cleared 1510 and 1268 files on an average of 8days 18hours and 11days 15hours correspondingly.
The files get piled up as the principal secretaries wait for the concerned persons of the file to meet them in person. The heaps of pending files on many tables are paving way to corruption. Not only the ministers but also the employees of secretariat are not abiding by the rules, thus causing problem to public.
Section officers have to move the file in three days followed by the deputy secretary who has to clear the file in two days. Some files which are lying from ages at the secretariat are creating discontentment in people.
It may be noted that the Prime Minister’s Office in June has sought details about movement of files, to assess the performance of cabinet ministers, particularly the time a file remained pending in their offices. It’s high time for AP CM to take cognisance of the delay and act accordingly.