All Maha staffers have to declare assets

Maharashtra Chief minister Ashok Chavan agreed with anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare that it should be made mandatory for the 20 lakh-and odd state government employees to declare their assets. “We have accepted the plea. If the elected representatives can declare their assets while filing nomination papers, it will be appropriate for the government employees to follow suit. As there is no mention of assets in the service rules, we will amend it after a discussion with the Centre,’’ Chavan told Hazare. The CM had convened a special meeting, which was attended by deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal and chief secretary Johny Joseph, where they discussed the issues raised by Hazare. “I have asked the administration to draft a time-bound action plan to implement the promises we made to Hazare,’’ Chavan said. Three years ago Hazare first took up the issue of declaration of state employees’ assets but it could not be accepted due to a dispute over the rule involving All India Service officials. The state can amend the directives and make it mandatory for its employees to declare their assets, but it cannot do the same with All India Service officials. “We will have to discuss it with the Centre. If the Centre agrees to have such a rule for All India service officials as well, then only we can make it mandatory,’’ a senior official said. At the meeting, Hazare—in a bid to have effective implementation of the Right to Information Act—asked Chavan to take stern action against erring officers for the dereliction of duty. Hazare said one of the reasons for the large number of pending cases—16,000—was owing to the failure of subordinate officers in providing information. The state has no power to book an erring official; only an information commissioner can take action against information officers for their failure to provide information. “Since it involves amending the rules, we will take it up with the Centre,’’ Chavan said. Hazare also demanded that action should be taken against officers who protect their erring juniors. “Many juniors were responsible for irregularities, but their seniors did not taken action against them,’’ Hazare said.