Speaker Legislative Assembly Kavinder Gupta today called for constitution of a Joint House Committee to take a holistic review of the `Order of Precedence’ to ensure privileges and protocol of the Ministers,Legislators and officers in the state.He also stressed on taking on board various stakeholders to seek their views for a comprehensive review of the issue.He, however, maintained that till the review process is completed the existing Order of Precedence should be followed in letter and spirit.Chief Secretary Bharat Bhushan Vyas, Commissioner Secretary General Administration Department Khurshid Ahmad Shah, Secretary Law Abdul Majid Bhat, Secretary Legislative Assembly, Mulkh Raj Singh, Additional Secretary LA, Naseem Jan, Additional Secretary Protocol Department besides other senior officers were present in the meeting.
Speaker also called for giving due consideration for incorporation of heads and officers of various left-out boards, institutions like State Vigilance Commission, State Information Commissions, State Accountability Commission and others in the order of precedence to ensure their due privileges are upheld.Taking a note of the point raised by legislators regarding violation of various circulars and guidelines issued by the government from time to time pertaining to privileges and amenities available to them, the Speaker asked the General Administration Department to issue a fresh circular directing the government officers, district administrations and Administrative Secretaries to strictly follow the order of precedence and ensure adherence to the guidelines regarding privileges and protocol of the legislators.