Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi gives up over a dozen powers

NEW DELHI: The Home Secretary cannot be just signing files all day, especially those related to mundane matters like condemning cars or approving time-barred LTC bills former finance secretary Rajiv Mehrishi has sent out this message in his new chair.

In what is being termed an unprecedented order issued on Wednesday in terms of delegation of powers to two other secretaries in the ministry, additional secretaries and joint secretaries, Home Secretary Mehrishi has relinquished over a dozen powers that home secretaries have traditionally enjoyed.

Among them were him being the sole authority to decide on condemnation of any goods or store in MHA, outsourcing housekeeping staff or approving time-barred claims for the allowances of employees.

“The authorities to whom these powers are being delegated, shall not further delegate these powers.These powers would be exercised in consultation with the Integrated Finance Division,“ the order says.

Secretary (Internal Security) and Secretary (Border Management) have been empowered to decide on any single tender or negotiated procurement upto Rs 5 cr while open tender procurements can be approved now by additional secretaries up to the value of Rs 20 cr and joint secretaries up to Rs 10 cr.

Further, all expenditure sanctions under approved projects (up to Rs 50 cr) and all fund releases under approved schemes or projects can now be done by either the two other secretaries or the additional secretaries regarding the divisions reporting to them.

These officers can now decide on authorizing expenditure sanction for operational vehicles of Central Armed Police Forces up to Rs 20 cr.The power of approving refreshments and food bills at MHA has also been delegated to Joint Secretaries.