Hours after the standing order came to the public domain, the Finance Secretary, in a note to the media, said the Chief Minister’s direction was “unimplementable,” as it was against statutory provisions.
Finance Secretary V. Candavelou in a signed note said as per statutory provisions and rule 20 of DFPR, the Lt. Governor has full financial powers to sanction grant-in aid including loans and scholarships.
By virtue of Section 47 of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1973, read with Rule 7 (1) of the Rules of Business of Government of Puducherry, 1963, the Central Government has delegated the financial powers to the administrator, the note said.
The rule 230 of Central Government’s General Financial Rules prescribes the principles and procedures for sanction of grant-in aid. There could be no “estoppel against statute,” Hence, the standing order issued by the Chief Minister was unimplementable, the note from the Secretary said.