KOLKATA — In a move to ensure the integrity of official records, the Government of West Bengal has issued a stern directive prohibiting the unauthorized removal or destruction of any departmental files.
The order, issued on May 4, 2026, by Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala, mandates that all departmental secretaries and heads of offices ensure that “no important paper or any file is removed, damaged, or otherwise taken out from the offices.”
Strict Accountability Measures
The directive explicitly forbids unauthorized copying or scanning of government documents. Key points from the order include:
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Document Accounting: Every file, important paper, and piece of communication must be properly accounted for within the respective departments.
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Personal Liability: Departmental Secretaries and Heads of Departments have been tasked with ensuring the order is followed “in letter and spirit.”
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Fixed Responsibility: The order warns that personal responsibility will be fixed for any instance of deviation or non-compliance.
Widespread Notification
The order (No. 95-CS/2026) has been distributed across the state’s highest administrative and law enforcement levels. Copies were forwarded to:
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All Departmental Secretaries and Principal Secretaries.
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The Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP), West Bengal.
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All Divisional Commissioners.
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The Commissioner of Police (CP), Kolkata.
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All District Magistrates.
