CM, Ministers Can Now Buy Phones Worth Up To Rs 1.5L Under New Policy; AAP Slams Move

The Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries Can Now Purchase Handsets Priced Between Rs 80,000 And Rs 1 Lakh, Up From The Previous Rs 30,000-Rs 40,000 Limit

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has revised its mobile phone and reimbursement policy for top officials and ministers, drawing both administrative rationale and political criticism. The General Administration Department (GAD) has issued updated guidelines increasing the mobile handset purchase limits for the Chief Minister, cabinet ministers, and senior officials, replacing norms that had been in place since 2013.

Under the new policy, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is now entitled to buy a mobile phone worth up to Rs.1.5 lakh using government funds. Cabinet ministers can procure devices priced up to Rs.1.25 lakh. The earlier ceiling stood at Rs.50,000 for the CM and Rs.45,000 for ministers.