Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Aug 19: The Maharashtra government has notified the Maharashtra Government Rules of Business, 2026, granting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis explicit powers to review, modify or revoke decisions taken by any minister in the state government.
Under the new rules, the Chief Minister can intervene if he believes that a decision taken by a minister is not in the larger public interest. However, he will be required to record written reasons for modifying or revoking the decision.
Ministers will continue to oversee the day-to-day functioning and administrative responsibilities of their respective departments. However, the new rules empower the Chief Minister to directly seek files, documents or other records from any department.
Documents sought by the Chief Minister will have to be provided without delay to the concerned minister and the department secretary.
The new rules mark a change from the earlier system, under which the Rules of Procedure did not explicitly empower the Chief Minister to directly review, modify or revoke a decision taken by the minister in charge of a department.
The position was also noted in a 2022 Bombay High Court judgment. Under the previous arrangement, departmental ministers enjoyed considerable autonomy in matters concerning their respective departments, with decisions generally coming up for collective reconsideration only when placed before the Cabinet.
The 2026 rules now formally clarify the respective powers of the Chief Minister and departmental ministers and allow the Chief Minister to review, modify or revoke a ministerial decision in the public interest.
The rules also define the administrative responsibilities of the Chief Minister, Cabinet ministers, Chief Secretary and departmental secretaries. In case of any doubt over the interpretation of a provision, the matter can be referred to the Chief Minister.
The Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary can also chair a committee with the permission of the Chief Minister.
The new rules prescribe stricter procedures for financial decisions as well. No decision that would impose an additional financial burden on the state exchequer can be taken without prior approval from the Finance Department.
Prescribed procedures will also have to be followed in matters involving concessions, leases or transactions relating to land, minerals and government property.
Before a new law is enacted, an existing law is amended or new rules are framed, the proposal will have to be submitted to the Law and Justice Department for scrutiny.
The Chief Minister and the Governor will also have to be informed about decisions that could potentially lead to a conflict with the Central government or another state government.
The new rules are expected to strengthen the Chief Minister's administrative authority and centralise decision-making in the state government. The move could help speed up decisions and resolve differences between departments.
However, the changes could also have political implications within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Ministers belonging to alliance partners may view greater intervention by the Chief Minister in departmental decisions as a reduction in their administrative autonomy and political influence.
This could potentially lead to differences within the coalition over major policy decisions, administrative matters and government expenditure.
Overall, the Maharashtra Government Rules of Business, 2026, formally expand and clarify the Chief Minister's authority over ministerial decisions, allowing intervention in the interest of the public while requiring written reasons for any decision to modify or revoke a minister's decision.