Yogi gives UP officials, employees last chance to declare assets

The Yogi Adityanath government in UP has given its officers and employees a last chance to declare assets as most of them have failed to meet the extended deadline of 25 April.

Chief secretary Rahul Bhatnagar has asked all additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries and secretaries to provide the details of assets of officers and employees working under them by 3 May.

The state personnel department has warned senior officers of action in this regard as this is the third time that the officials have failed to meet the deadline.

Principal secretary, personnel, Kamran Rizvi has reminded all senior officers about the 6 April deadline that has not been met.

In a government order (GO) dated 25 April 2017, Rizvi has asked all the principal secretaries and secretaries to treat 3 May as the last opportunity for declaration of assets.

''Expect personal interest – this is the last opportunity. Any laxity will be treated adversely,'' he told officers.

Rizvi has informed senior officers that only four departments – secretariat administration, civil defence, agriculture and agricultural marketing – have provided details to date.

''But even in these departments, group 'A' and 'B' employees have not provided any information about their assets,'' said Rizvi.

The Uttar Pradesh government has a huge work force in about 84 departments. The Indian Administrative Service officers are expected to provide details about their assets every year.

After assuming office on 19 March, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had asked all the ministers and officers to declare their assets within 15 days.

On 21 March, the state government circulated a prescribed format to all the officers and employees seeking details about their immovable properties.

The officers were asked to furnish details of inheritance or buying of property, investments made by them in shares and deposits in bank accounts.

The government had extended the first deadline of 6 April to 15 April saying the officers and employees were busy with the closing of financial year. Later, the deadline was once again shifted to 25 April.

The CM had also sent a reminder to his ministerial colleagues asking them to provide details of their assets

In a letter dated 13 April, the CM noted that most of his colleagues had not provided details of their movable and immovable assets. ''I hope you will provide the information in next three days,'' he said.