Assam asks officers to follow procedure while dealing with MLAs, MPs

GUWAHATI: With several MLAs complaining about shabby treatment from the Babus, Assam government has asked the administrative official to observe proper procedure.

The state government has circulated detail guidelines issued Union ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions which details extensively with official dealings between administration and Member of Parliament and state legislatures.

The circular issued in November stated, “The members of parliament and state legislature as the accredited representatives of the people occupy a very important place in our democratic set up. In connection with their duties they often find it necessary to seek information from ministries/departments of the Government of India or the state government or make suggestions for their consideration or ask for interviews with officers.”

Several MLAs in Assam have pointed that officers are disregarding them. A senior minister added, “There is growing disregard for MLAs and MPs by section officialdom. We have circulated the guidelines right up to district level officials as this tendency of disregarding elected representatives is growing.”

The minister said that in several instances it is seen protocol is not followed. In September this year Congress ruled Assam government and NDA led centre were on collision course as the state government choose to boycott the review meeting of Union minister of state, Sarbananda Sonowal.

Sonowal was entrusted by the Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping minister, Nitin Gadkari to review the road projects of Assam and expedite the same. Assam government has however said proper protocol was not followed in convening the meeting.

The committee on violations of protocol norms and Contemptuous Behaviour of Government officers with members of Lok Sabha at its first meeting on October 28, 2014 also felt that consolidated instructions/guidelines issued by the Department of personnel and training on December 1, 2011 on official dealing between administration and members of parliament need to be again circulated to all concerned executive functionaries.