SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government is considering a revised vehicle policy that proposes limiting officers to one official vehicle, with exceptions for security, field duties, additional assignments and other operational requirements.
The Transport Department disclosed this in a written reply to a starred question raised by MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania regarding the allotment and retention of multiple official vehicles by government officers.
The government said there is currently no uniform policy prescribing a ceiling on the number of official vehicles that may be allotted or retained by individual officers across government departments, public sector undertakings, boards and autonomous bodies.
However, the proposed Revised Car Policy includes the principle of “One Vehicle-One Officer”. The government said exceptions could be permitted where considered necessary, taking into account security requirements, field duties, additional charges or assignments, operational exigencies and the functional requirements of particular departments or organisations.
The proposed provisions will be implemented across the concerned departments, PSUs, boards and autonomous bodies after approval of the revised policy, the government said.
According to the reply, the proposed system is intended to rationalise the government vehicle fleet, improve utilisation of available resources and reduce government expenditure.
On expenditure on fuel, oil and lubricants (POL), hiring, repairs and maintenance during the past three years, the government said details relating to the State Motor Garages Department have been provided in Annexure A to the reply.
Information on vehicles purchased since April 1, 2022, including their make, model, registration number, purchase cost, procurement channel and approving authority, has been provided in Annexures B and C.
The government also provided details of Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Departments and senior officers currently allotted more than one official vehicle, including pool or attached vehicles and vehicles drawn from subordinate offices, PSUs and corporations. These details are contained in Annexure D.
On physical verification and auditing of the government vehicle fleet, the government said the State Motor Garages Department conducts audit and physical verification of its fleet periodically.
Regarding revision of fleet management rules and making details of vehicle allotment and running expenditure publicly available through an online portal, the government said the General Administration Department had constituted a committee through Government Order No. 321-JK(GAD) of 2021 dated April 9, 2021, to examine and recommend a revised car or vehicle policy.
The committee has subsequently prepared the draft Government Vehicle Management Policy, 2026, which is currently under consideration by the government.
