- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Tue, 22 Apr 2025 04:33 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Bihar government has decided to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards officer negligence and misconduct in government departments. In a significant move to ensure transparency and discipline in the bureaucracy, the government is formulating a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for swift action against officers whose videos of misbehavior or wrongdoing go viral on social media.
The General Administration Department has been tasked with preparing the SOP, which aims to standardise the process of departmental action in such cases.
Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena, who chaired a high-level review meeting with senior officials on Monday, made it clear that laxity in government work or involvement in corruption would not be tolerated. "Identify such officers and take immediate departmental action. There should be no scope for leniency," he directed during the meeting.
Meena also instructed departments to clear all pending cases at the earliest. He urged officials to investigate the reasons behind delays and focus on timely resolution. Additionally, he emphasised the need for efficient utilisation of funds under central government schemes.
As part of the state’s broader reform efforts, the Chief Secretary also directed all departments to carry out an audit of their energy consumption. Highlighting the need for resource efficiency, he said energy audits would help reduce unnecessary usage and cut costs.
He recommended increased use of LED lights in all government offices and buildings, noting that LEDs can reduce electricity consumption by up to 80 per cent compared to traditional bulbs. Departments were also advised to use heating and cooling systems judiciously and to initiate energy audits in government-run hospitals and schools as part of this drive.
