Broadly speaking these functions can be classified as under:
Adviser to the CM:
The chief secretary acts as the principal advisor to the chief minister on all matters of state administration. The chief minister consults him on all policy issues related to the governance of state. He explains to the chief minister about the administrative implications of the proposals forwarded by the state ministers.
He also serves as a link between the chief minister and other secretaries of the state government.
Secretary to the Cabinet:
The chief secretary acts as a secretary to the state cabinet. He is the administrative head of the cabinet secretariat and attends the meeting of the cabinet and its sub-committees. He prepares the agenda for cabinet meetings and keeps records of its proceedings. He takes steps for the implementation of the decisions taken in such meetings. He acts as the ex officio secretary to the council of ministers and while acting in this capacity, he may be called as the secretary to the cabinet.
Head of State Cabinet Secretariat:
The cabinet secretariat works under the overall control and command of the Chief Secretary.
Resource Person of State Government:
The chief secretary is often asked to express his views on important matters. His information and advice as secretary to the council facilitate political decision-making. .
Head of Civil Services:
The chief secretary acts as the head of the state civil services. Important cases pertaining to appointments, transfers and promotion of senior state civil servants go to his desk. He plays an important role in maintaining the morale of the civil services. As a conscience-keeper of all state civil servants he determines vacancies, appointments, transfers, placements, seniority, promotions and retirement of public servants.
Coordinator of Civil Service Efforts:
The chief secretary ensures inter departmental coordination. He advises the secretaries on inter departmental difficulties. He is the chairman of coordination committees which are set up for resolving inter departmental disputes. He presides over the meetings of the department secretaries and divisional commissioners, district collectors and the heads of departments of district administration to effect coordination.
He is also the chairman of the Planning and Development Coordination Committees.
Head of Secretariat Departments:
The chief secretary may also act as an administrative head of some secretariat departments. His position varies from state to state but in most of the states, the general administration department, personnel department, planning department and administrative reforms department are kept by the chief secretary under his direct charge.
In times of crises like flood, drought, communal disturbances and others, the chief secretary plays a significant role by providing guidance and leadership to field officers and agencies engaged in relief operations. He chairs all such committees which take high level policy decisions during crisis situations.
Residual Legatee:
The chief secretary also acts as the residual legatee, that is, he looks after all those matters which do not fall within the purview of other secretaries. He acts as secretary, by rotation, of the zonal council of which the state concerned is a member and exercises general supervision and control over the entire state secretariat. He acts as the chief advisor to the Governor when President’s rule is imposed in the state and if the Central advisors are not appointed he runs the administration.
Functions of the Chief Secretary of a State
Broadly speaking these functions can be classified as under:
The chief secretary acts as the principal advisor to the chief minister on all matters of state administration. The chief minister consults him on all policy issues related to the governance of state. He explains to the chief minister about the administrative implications of the proposals forwarded by the state ministers.
He also serves as a link between the chief minister and other secretaries of the state government.
The chief secretary acts as a secretary to the state cabinet. He is the administrative head of the cabinet secretariat and attends the meeting of the cabinet and its sub-committees. He prepares the agenda for cabinet meetings and keeps records of its proceedings. He takes steps for the implementation of the decisions taken in such meetings. He acts as the ex officio secretary to the council of ministers and while acting in this capacity, he may be called as the secretary to the cabinet.
The cabinet secretariat works under the overall control and command of the Chief Secretary.
The chief secretary is often asked to express his views on important matters. His information and advice as secretary to the council facilitate political decision-making. .
The chief secretary acts as the head of the state civil services. Important cases pertaining to appointments, transfers and promotion of senior state civil servants go to his desk. He plays an important role in maintaining the morale of the civil services. As a conscience-keeper of all state civil servants he determines vacancies, appointments, transfers, placements, seniority, promotions and retirement of public servants.
The chief secretary ensures inter departmental coordination. He advises the secretaries on inter departmental difficulties. He is the chairman of coordination committees which are set up for resolving inter departmental disputes. He presides over the meetings of the department secretaries and divisional commissioners, district collectors and the heads of departments of district administration to effect coordination.
He is also the chairman of the Planning and Development Coordination Committees.
The chief secretary may also act as an administrative head of some secretariat departments. His position varies from state to state but in most of the states, the general administration department, personnel department, planning department and administrative reforms department are kept by the chief secretary under his direct charge.
In times of crises like flood, drought, communal disturbances and others, the chief secretary plays a significant role by providing guidance and leadership to field officers and agencies engaged in relief operations. He chairs all such committees which take high level policy decisions during crisis situations.
The chief secretary also acts as the residual legatee, that is, he looks after all those matters which do not fall within the purview of other secretaries. He acts as secretary, by rotation, of the zonal council of which the state concerned is a member and exercises general supervision and control over the entire state secretariat. He acts as the chief advisor to the Governor when President’s rule is imposed in the state and if the Central advisors are not appointed he runs the administration.