SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has issued a directive to all government departments, mandating that under-process files must not remain pending for more than 7 days, reports appearing in the media said.
Administrative Secretaries have been entrusted with supervising e-office file operations within their respective departments. Besides, concern has been raised over the sluggish adoption of e-office practices in certain Deputy Commissioner offices, prompting corrective action.
In a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, the implementation status of various e-initiatives undertaken by the government was extensively discussed. The Chief Secretary expressed his concern regarding the limited uptake of e-office practices, particularly in specific Deputy Commissioner offices. To address this, Incharge Administrative Secretaries have been directed to review and oversee e-office implementation in their districts. They have been instructed to engage with Deputy Commissioners to resolve any challenges hampering e-office adoption.
Sources indicate that the Information Technology Department will provide pertinent data to Administrative Secretaries and Department Heads, facilitating the proper execution of e-office initiatives in line with the government’s objectives.
Highlighting the significance of efficient file management, the Chief Secretary emphasised the importance of not letting any under-process file linger beyond 7 days. The e-office initiative aims to expedite file processing and ensure timely disposals. Responding to a suggestion from the Additional Chief Secretary Home, the Chief Secretary urged the Information Technology Department to explore creating a dashboard to monitor inter-departmental file consultations.
In terms of National e-Governance Service Delivery (NeSDA) rankings, all concerned departments have been urged to swiftly address pending compliance matters. Dr Arun Kumar Mehta reiterated the aspiration for Jammu and Kashmir to secure the top rank nationally in this context. He specifically highlighted the role of social media in disseminating public information about JK Tenders.
Discussions during the meeting also covered the expansion of Jammu and Kashmir e-Governance Agency (JaKeGA) capacities and clarifying organizational roles. The Commissioner Secretary of IT was tasked with addressing IT-related concerns through direct engagement with Administrative Secretaries for prompt resolution.
The government has also underscored the need for effective public grievance redressal and urged departments to share tendering and allotment statuses. With information from approximately 13 departments still awaited, Administrative Secretaries have been urged to promptly provide the necessary data. The Chief Secretary is scheduled to hold a meeting with these departments to address this gap in the coming days.
