Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Sunday said government officers need not take instructions from Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi as she was “overstepping her statutory limits”.
Addressing a press conference in the committee hall of the Legislative Assembly here, Mr. Narayanasamy said that Ms. Bedi had been issuing instructions to the officers without any authority.
The Chief Minister took strong exception to Ms. Bedi’s continuing the practice of taking to the social media to issue warnings to officers that they would face stern action if found wanting in the implementation of welfare schemes.
“This is unbecoming of the administrator, particularly after the Supreme Court clearly laid down that the Lt. Governor has no independent authority and should abide by the aid and advice of the Ministry,” Mr. Narayanasamy said.
“The Lt. Governor can pay field visits. But she has no statutory approval to hold meetings with officers and issue arbitrary instructions to them without the knowledge of the Chief Minister and the Ministers.”
The Chief Minister and other Ministers should be apprised of her suggestions through the Chief Secretary and Secretaries concerned. Further, the Ministry need not get any approval from the Lt. Governor on any decision relating to routine administration, Mr. Narayanasamy added.
Referring to the serious impact the exorbitant rate of Goods and Services Tax (GST) had caused on small and medium industries, Mr. Narayanasamy said that he projected before the GST Council meeting in Delhi the predicament of the industries here.
GST impact
Small and medium industries were not able to stand the competition from big industries and the imposition of high rate of GST had hit them. The industries had become sick or closed down causing large-scale unemployment.
The contribution of small and medium industries was to the extent of 25% to 30% in foreign exchange earnings.
In Puducherry, workers from States such as Odisha engaged in small and medium industries and in the construction industries had lost their jobs and returned to their native places.
The Chief Minister said batches of industrialists engaged in production of plastic material had brought to his attention that the uniform rate of 18% and 5% had been imposed under GST for the plastic products and recycled plastic.
The plastic industry owners want this to be reduced to 5%.
Similarly, units manufacturing tractors and automobile spare parts had been facing a serious situation with GST ranging between 12% and 18 %.
Mr. Narayanasamy said he had made a representation to the Centre about GST focusing on the hardship faced by the small and medium industries. The Union Territory would be able to get around ₹250 crore if the Centre earmarked its share in the Interstate GST, he said.
