State grants greater financial powers to CEO

ACCORDING TO AN OFFICIAL ORDER, THE MOVE FOLLOWS A LONG-PENDING PROPOSAL UNDER EXAMINATION BY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. WITH THE GOVERNOR'S APPROVAL, THE CEO WILL NOW BE ABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY SANCTION EXPENDITURE UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURES AND THE STATE DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (SDS) CATEGORY. OFFICIALS SAID THE STEP IS LIKELY TO SMOOTHEN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES AND ACCELERATE PROJECT-RELATED APPROVALS WITHIN THE CEO'S ESTABLISHMENT. THE DEVELOPMENT COMES AMID HEIGHTENED POLITICAL SCRUTINY OF THE CEO'S OFFICE. INTERESTINGLY THE STATE UNIT OF THE BJP SUBMITTED A MEMORANDUM TO THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA (ECI), ALLEGING THAT THE OFFICE LACKS TRUE INDEPENDENCE FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT ON WEDNESDAY.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

The state has expanded the financial powers of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), bringing the post on par with senior state bureaucrats such as an Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary and Departmental Secretary for the purpose of administrative sanctions.

According to an official order, the move follows a long-pending proposal under examination by the finance department. With the Governor's approval, the CEO will now be able to independently sanction expenditure under Administrative Expenditures and the State Development Scheme (SDS) category.