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Rajasthan Bans Govt Events at Hotels to Curb Unnecessary Spending

The Rajasthan government has issued a circular prohibiting its departments from organizing official events at hotels and private venues. The directive mandates that meetings, seminars, and ceremonies must be held in government-owned buildings and auditoriums. Exceptions will only be allowed under special circumstances and require prior approval from a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary. This move aims to ensure optimal use of public infrastructure and control avoidable costs.

Key Points: Rajasthan Bans Govt Events at Private Venues, Hotels

  • Curb public expenditure
  • Use govt infrastructure
  • Prior approval for exceptions
  • Reinforce fiscal discipline
  • Improve governance efficiency
2 min read

No govt events in hotels, private venues: Rajasthan Chief Secretary issues circular

Rajasthan govt prohibits departments from holding events at hotels & private venues to curb public expenditure. Exceptions require top-level approval.

"This decision will ensure proper utilisation of public resources and prevent unnecessary expenditure. - State Government"

Jaipur, April 9

In a move aimed at curbing unnecessary public expenditure, the Rajasthan government has prohibited its departments from organising events at hotels and private venues.

As per a circular issued by Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, meetings, exhibitions, seminars, and ceremonies must, as far as possible, be held only in government buildings and official auditoriums.

The circular emphasises optimal use of existing government infrastructure and directs all departments, corporations, autonomous bodies, and public sector undertakings (PSUs) to host their events in government-owned facilities. These include well-equipped venues such as the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC), Constitution Club, Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj Institute (IGPRS), Harish Chandra Mathur Rajasthan State Institute of Public Administration (HCM-RIPA), and the State Institute of Agricultural Management (SIAM), Durgapura.

The circular clarifies that events at private venues or hotels will be allowed only under exceptional circumstances. In such cases, prior approval must be obtained in a specially called meeting from a committee headed by the Chief Secretary. The committee will include the Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary of the Finance Department, the Principal Secretary of the General Administration Department (GAD), and the Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary of the concerned department.

The state government said that this decision will ensure proper utilisation of public resources and prevent unnecessary expenditure. It believes the move will improve efficiency in the delivery of government services while reducing wastage and controlling avoidable costs, ultimately leading to better management of funds and more effective governance.

With this directive, the government has effectively ended the routine practice of hosting official events in private venues, reinforcing fiscal discipline and better utilisation of public assets, said officials.

This initiative has been taken for the first time and hence is being discussed across political and bureaucratic corridors. Officials said that there are world-class buildings in Jaipur owned by the state government which remain unused while officials rush to private hotels for different events.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good step, but implementation is key. Will the government venues be maintained properly? Often they lack basic facilities like good AC or clean washrooms. Hope they upgrade the infrastructure alongside this order.
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Rohit P
As someone from Jaipur, I know the RIC and other govt venues are actually very good. They were underutilized while officers enjoyed five-star treats. This will save crores of rupees. Hope other states follow Rajasthan's lead.
A
Aman W
The 'exceptional circumstances' clause is a loophole. Who decides what is exceptional? The same committee of senior officers might just approve everything. Need transparency in those committee meetings.
N
Nisha Z
Positive move for sure. But let's not forget the impact on hotel staff and event businesses in Jaipur. Many depend on government bookings. The government should also think about supporting MSMEs in this sector.
D
David E
Interesting policy. In many countries, government facilities are the primary venue for official events. This seems like a common-sense approach to curb unnecessary spending. The key will be ensuring the approved venues are well-maintained and accessible.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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