HR IS INCLUDED UNDER THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT (GAD) IN THE BUSINESS OF THE HARYANA GOVERNMENT (ALLOCATION) RULES, 1974
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On 1 Jan 2024, D. Suresh, a 1995 batch IAS of Haryana Cadre, who was hitherto posted as Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi has now been posted as Principal Secretary to Govt. Haryana, Human Resources (HR) Department against a newly created post.
Earlier on 21 Dec 2023, a Gazette Notification was published by Human Resources (HR) Department of Haryana Government which mentioned that the Governor of Haryana is pleased to designate the Director General, Human Resources Department (which is to be appointed by the Government) as Appointing Authority for purposes of the Section 2(a)(i) of Haryana Group D Employee (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2018. The DG, HR is yet to be appointed/posted by the State Government.
Meanwhile, Hemant Kumar, an Advocate at Punjab and Haryana High Court said that in the Business of the Haryana Government (Allocation) Rules, 1974 which have been framed/made in exercise of the powers conferred by Clauses (2) and (3) of Article 166 of the Constitution of India and which have been amended from time to time with the most recent amendments in early-2023, Human Resources (HR) is still not a Department and it rather come under the Head i.e. General Administration Department (GAD).
(SUBHEAD)Hence, in view of the above Hemant legally opines that since General Administration Department (GAD) is with State Chief Secretary and thus he (CS) is the Administrative Secretary of GAD and in other words, also the Administrative Secy. of Human Resources (HR) since it also officially comes under GAD, hence there seems no rationale is appointing another senior IAS officer as Principal Secretary of HR since either Chief Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary (ACSelse Principal Secretary (PS) rank officer can be Administrative Secretary of a Department but not both.
Pertinent that as per amendment dated 1st Jan 2023 in Business of the Haryana Government (Allocation) Rules, 1974, Administration Reforms which earlier used to be mentioned as separate Sub-Head i.e. (F) under the Head of General Administration Department was omitted and the entries beneath therein were transferred to Sub-Head (B) i.e. General. This is why mention of Administrative Reforms was dispensed with in the new nomenclature/designation of Chief Secretary, Haryana in March, 2023.
Also, Foreign Cooperation which earlier also used to be under General Administration Department and used to be mentioned as separate Sub-Head i.e. (G) has been taken out of the same and notified as a Separate Department under Business of the Haryana Government (Allocation) Rules, 1974 vide Notification dated 6 March 2023.
Be that as it may, as on today, there are a total of five Sub-Heads viz. Political, General, Vigilance, Citizen Resources Information & Human Resources under the Main Head i.e. General Administration in the Business of the Haryana Government (Allocation) Rules, 1974, quips Hemant.
As on date, full desigation of Haryana Chief Secretary (CS), Sanjeev Kaushal, IAS (HY: 1986) is Chief Secretary to Government, Haryana, General Administration, Human Resources, Personnel & Training, Parliamentary Affairs, Vigilance Departments and Secretary Incharge of Plan Coordination.
