No more hearings, adalats in govt. guest houses due to ‘inconvenience’ to VIP/VVIP guests

Conference halls of Government Guest Houses will not be available to commissions and institutions including the Lok Ayukta from mid-July for holding hearings and adalats as the crowds are causing inconvenience to “VIP/VVIP guests,” according to the State government.

Commissions, government-appointed committees, government departments and institutions such as the Lok Ayukta and Ombudsmen routinely hold their hearings, adalats and meetings in Government Guest Houses given the official nature of their business, the low hall rent and the central location that makes it easy for the public to access these venues.

But the General Administration department, in a June 25 circular by its secretary K. Biju, has directed them to switch to other suitable locations including conference halls in district collectorates. Copies of the circular have been sent to chairpersons of all commissos and committees, heads of public sector institutions, the Lok Ayukta and the Upa Lok Ayukta and the guest house managers.

The decision applies from July 14.

The General Administration department has justified its decision on the grounds that large crowds which are inevitable during hearings and adalats and training sessions cause inconvenience to VIPs/VVIPs staying at the guest houses.

According to the department, the government had issued instructions not to rent out the halls for such meetings through a November 2017 order.

Recent examples of government guest houses used as venues include a series of hearings held by the State Delimitation Commission on ward delimitation in local bodies in March this year.