Hyderabad: With the Election Commission objecting to the review meetings held by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, chief secretary L.V. Subrahmanyam has instructed all IAS, IPS and other officials not to attend any review meetings.
He also directed Director General of Police R.P. Thakur not to attend any law and order meetings called by Mr Naidu.
Mr Subrahmanyam ma-de it clear to government officials that without taking permission from him they are not allowed to attend meetings held by Mr Naidu.
Mr Naidu on Thursday held review meetings on the Polavaram project and construction of the new capital city Amaravati. He intended to hold a review meeting with police officers on law and order issues, but has cancelled this meeting.
Mr Subrahmanyam has vetoed these meetings on the grounds that when the election model code of conduct is in force, the Chief Minister of a state cannot hold any review meetings with officials, and government officials should not attend such review meetings.
He said that officers should not meet the Chief Minister on any work, whether he calls them or on their own. “If anything, the Chief Minister will inform the concerned department secretary, and in turn the secretaries should bring it to my notice. Depending on the issue, I will take a decision,” the Chief Secretary told government officials.
Rule 19.6.1 of the model code of conduct says: “During the period of operation of the Model Code, no video conferencing shall take place between the Chief Minist-er/ ministers/ political functionaries of the Union and state governments with the government officials.”
Mr Subrahmanyam confirmed to this newspaper that he had issued such instructions. When the election code is in force, the Chief Minister and cabinet ministers cannot hold review meetings, and if they do, officials should not attend them, he said. He added that he has informed officers not to go to the Chief Minister without his prior permission.
