The Andhra Pradesh government is determined to start full-fledged administrative work from Velagapudi from October 3. So, to ammend that government has decided to shift all the left over departments from Hyderabad to the temporary Secretariat at Velgapudi by September 30.
As part of the move, all the 33 departments would be shifted. The State Disaster Management Department (SMD) would remain in the common capital for some more time. Only a Central Record Room and some skeletal staff would remain in Hyderabad.
Guidelines to this effect have been prepared by the General Administration Department (GAD). As the shifting has been treated on par with transfer of staff the employees will get joining time. So far, 65 lakh files have been scanned and all of them would be converted into e-files. In addition, they will be given three days paid leave to enable them to relocate.
The State government is also discussing another issue of feasibility to adopt a practice followed in the Supreme Court. The proposal being examined is that officials like Principal Secretaries file affidavits before the courts on behalf of the government in pending legal issues.
However, there will be a possible disruption in the functioning of the Secretariat for two days on September 28 and 29, as the computers and other hardware will be shifted on these two days. This would leave the State government with issues of division of High Court and tribunals.
Officials from the temporary Secretariat would send an e-file properly signed. And one section officer and an assistant secretary rank official from each department would be stationed at Hyderabad as the liasioning officers. The e-file sent from the department concerned would be certified by the liasioning official in Hyderabad for the purpose of filing before the High Court and tribunals.
But, in case of the apex court, the officials need not attend in person rather a scanned copy of affidavit certified could be submitted. As it would be difficult to shuttle between Hyderabad and Velagapudi, the government is exploring the feasibility and legality of adopting similar procedure in case of High Court and the tribunals.
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BY M. DIVYA SRI
