Kerala Kaumudi impact: CM announces new 'intense drive' to clear pending files

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is finally intervening to solve the never-ending crisis of 15 lakh pending files piled in the secretariat. The third campaign has been launched to resolve pending files. On the instructions of the Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary issued a verbal notice to all the Heads of Departments. Guidelines for adjudication will be released soon. Similar initiatives conducted in 2019 and 2022 failed to meet the target.

It was ‘Kerala Kaumudi’ that reported on Wednesday about the pending files mounted inside the secretariat. The local self-government department has the highest number of pending files around three lakhs. Home, Finance, Education, Revenue and Health departments are also not behind in numbers.

The Chief Secretary has directed the Departmental Secretaries to take stock of pending files. Some departments like Fisheries have already started clearing the pending files. It is estimated that an average of 30,000 files are generated every month in 44 departments of the Secretariat. Many files are settled only after the examination of assistants to departmental secretaries. Earlier, CM intervened to cut short the long-form procedures, but it paid no dividends.

Some files extend to the offices of the Chief Secretary and Chief Minister. Although the Secretariat has a file adalath every three months, priority is given to essential files.

Reason for delay in settlement

1. Cases and Disciplinary Proceedings

2.Delay from the Finance Department

3.Delay in Ministerial Decisions