CM Suvendu slashes "red-tape' on MLA petitions, issues 7-day deadline; Firhad Hakim praises decision

In a landmark moment inside the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Monday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a sweeping structural reform designed to eliminate bureaucratic red tape hindering development. Moving forward, public grievances and regional demands raised by MLAs during the assembly's reference phase will no longer remain pending indefinitely. The Chief Minister introduced a strict timeline mandated to expedite responses and resolve grassroot issues systematically. Trinamool Congress MLA Firhad Hakim strongly lauded the decision, labeling the policy change as a historic milestone for the state legislature.

According to the new administrative framework, the Speaker will direct the Assembly Secretariat to forward all demands raised by lawmakers to the respective government departments within seven days. Upon receiving these petitions, the concerned departments must thoroughly evaluate the issues and submit a formal compliance reply back to the Assembly or the respective MLA within a strict seven-day window. If the department deems a project unfeasible or predicts an unavoidable operational delay, it must officially state the explicit technical reasons and justification for the delay to the house.

To ensure total transparency and execution, the Assembly Secretariat will simultaneously route copies of all legislative demands directly to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). The private secretary to the Chief Minister will actively monitor the implementation progress and produce a comprehensive compliance report every three months. Expressing his gratitude on the floor of the house, Firhad Hakim noted that despite his long tenure as a lawmaker, elected representatives had never previously received such systemic respect. He added that the ruling government's inclusive administrative approach creates a fresh and progressive history within the West Bengal Assembly.