Rajasthan: Government of Bhajan Lal Sharma Cancels 9 Districts, 3 Divisions Established Under Gehlot Administration

Jaipur, Dec 28 (NationPress) The Rajasthan government, under the leadership of Bhajan Lal Sharma, has officially revoked the establishment of nine districts and three divisions that were created during the tenure of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. This resolution was reached during a Cabinet meeting on Saturday, altering the state’s administrative structure to consist of 41 districts and 7 divisions.

The annulled divisions include Pali, Sikar, and Banswara. The cancellations affected nine of the seventeen newly formed districts during Gehlot's administration, specifically Dudu, Kekri, Shahpura, Neemkathana, Gangapur City, Jaipur Rural, Jodhpur Rural, Anupgarh, and Sanchore.

During the press briefing, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel confirmed the restructuring of districts and divisions created by the previous government. Following this decision, Rajasthan will now comprise 7 divisions and 41 districts.

Patel remarked that the former government had hastily announced the creation of new districts and divisions in its final year, with notifications issued on August 5, 2023. The announcement of three additional districts occurred just prior to the implementation of the Assembly Election-2023 code of conduct, resulting in unissued notifications.

The Minister criticized the prior administration for focusing on political interests rather than administrative necessities, stating that the creation of these new units neglected essential considerations such as financial viability, administrative needs, law and order, and cultural harmony.

Moreover, the required positions, infrastructure, and budget provisions were not adequately established for these new districts.

To rectify these issues, a high-level expert committee, headed by retired IAS officer Lalit K. Panwar, was appointed to assess the changes. Based on the committee's recommendations, the Cabinet opted to retain eight districts: Phalodi, Balotra, Kotputli-Baharod, Khairthal-Tijara, Beawar, Deeg, Didwana-Kuchaman, and Salumber.

However, the nine annulled districts include Anupgarh, Dudu, Gangapur City, Jaipur Rural, Jodhpur Rural, Kekri, Neem Ka Thana, Sanchore, and Shahpura, along with the divisions Banswara, Pali, and Sikar.

Additionally, the districts of Malpura, Sujangarh, and Kuchaman City, which were declared just before the election code of conduct, have also been canceled.

The Cabinet sanctioned the reorganization of Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, and Gram Panchayats in light of these changes.

Patel assured that sufficient financial resources and facilities would be allocated to construct the administrative framework in the retained districts, thereby ensuring that residents benefit from these reforms.

During the press conference, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara revealed additional Cabinet decisions, including amendments to service rules. This involves extending the validity of the Common Eligibility Test (CET) score for Rajasthan Subordinate and Clerical Class Services from one year to three years, which aims to alleviate the number of repeat applicants and lessen the administrative and financial burden on the board.

Amendments were also approved to provide a third promotion opportunity for livestock assistants and to adjust their designations.

Furthermore, under the removal of censure penalty impacts on the Minimum Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme, the Cabinet terminated the influence of censure penalties on financial upgrades. This change ensures that personnel will no longer experience delays in receiving financial benefits related to their years of service due to disciplinary actions.

These initiatives are designed to enhance administrative efficiency, prioritize employee welfare, and alleviate the financial strain on both the government and its employees, reflecting the state government's commitment to good governance, as stated by the ministers during the press briefing.