Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 22 Jul: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today released ‘Seva Vidhi’, a book authored by former Additional Secretary RC Lohani, at an event held at the CM’s Residence. On this occasion, the CM described the book as a highly useful and practical guide for government officers and employees.
Congratulating Lohani on the publication, the CM said that every government officer and employee has a duty to contribute to the development of the state with integrity, transparency and complete dedication. However, he observed that the smooth, simple and efficient functioning of any administrative system depends on a thorough understanding of the applicable rules, procedures and legal provisions. He noted that since the formation of Uttarakhand, there had been no comprehensive publication bringing together service rules, constitutional provisions, government orders and important judicial decisions in a simple and systematic manner.
Dhami said ‘Seva Vidhi’ is not merely a book but a practical handbook that will guide officers and employees throughout their service careers by providing them with the right direction and essential guidance. He observed that the government employment is described as public service because every decision taken by a government functionary directly affects the life of the person standing at the last mile of society.
The CM added that whenever an officer or employee resolves a citizen’s grievance or ensures that a poor person receives his or her rightful entitlement, or helps a farmer, woman, youth or elderly citizen avail the benefits of a government welfare scheme, it amounts to true service to the nation. He said that for a public servant, honesty alone is not sufficient and must be complemented by a deep understanding of the laws, the rules and the administrative procedures. According to him, the book will provide officers and employees with a clear understanding of their rights, responsibilities, service rules and administrative processes, enabling them to discharge their duties with greater confidence and efficiency.
Dhami reiterated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttarakhand is setting new benchmarks in development and that the State Government is functioning with governance, transparency and accountability as its highest priorities. He said the government has made extensive use of technology in administration, simplified official procedures and accelerated decision-making. He added that the development of any State does not depend solely on schemes or budgetary allocations but on the strength of a sensitive, capable and accountable administrative machinery. Government policies, he observed, can succeed only when they are implemented honestly and sensitively at the grassroots level. Therefore, the more efficient the administrative system, the stronger will be the confidence of the people in the government.
The CM said that his own experience has shown that some of the officers understand the true spirit of rules and regulations. Such officers, he said, do not allow rules to become obstacles but instead find ways to serve public interest while remaining within the framework of the law. He emphasised that the objective of governance is not merely to enforce rules but to make life easier for the people. Rules are meant to maintain order, but their ultimate purpose should always be public welfare. He said that when the people approach government offices with their problems, they do so with great hope and trust. Therefore, the working style of public servants should ensure that citizens receive prompt, accessible and transparent justice. He reiterated that the State Government’s governance mantra remains “Simplification, Solution, Disposal and Satisfaction”, under which procedures must be simplified, permanent solutions found to public grievances, files disposed of within prescribed timelines and citizens left satisfied so that Uttarakhand can realise its goal of becoming the best State in the country.
Author RC Lohani said the book has been prepared keeping in view constitutional provisions, Acts, service rules, regulations, government orders and the principles laid down by the Supreme Court and various High Courts. He said the publication comprehensively covers constitutional provisions relating to government service, including appointment, reservation, probation, confirmation, seniority, promotion, transfer, compassionate appointment, suspension, disciplinary proceedings, responsibilities of inquiry officers, penalties, appeals against punishment, termination of temporary employees, resignation, voluntary retirement, compulsory retirement, conduct rules for State employees, post-retirement disciplinary proceedings, prosecution for criminal acts committed during service, leave rules, the Official Language Act, lien-related service rules and summaries of significant judgments delivered by the Supreme Court and High Courts from time to time. He expressed confidence that the book would prove to be a valuable reference for government officers and employees.
Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, former Additional Secretary Bhupesh Tiwari, GB Oli, Ramesh Chandra Sharma, Hansadatt Pandey, former Joint Secretary Naveen Singh Tadani, DS Rawat, Col (Retd) Shiv Sahrawat, scientist (Retd) PC Verma, Deputy Commissioner (Transport) Sunil Sharma, Section Officer Deepak Joshi, Randhir Arora, Pooran Singh Rawat, Ashwini Singh Negi, R.C.S. Bisht, Vikas Srivastava and several other distinguished guests were among those present on the occasion.
