Bengal Chief Secretary Issues Directive on Safeguarding Government Records

MP, May 5, 2026, Kolkata: In an unprecedented directive aimed at safeguarding official records, Bengal Chief Secretary Dushyant Narial on Monday instructed that no important government document or file be removed, destroyed, scanned, or copied without explicit authorisation.

The memo issued earlier on Monday afternoon, at a time when trends from the Bengal Assembly Election had hinted at a possible shift in power, mandates strict vigilance across departments. It places direct responsibility on departmental secretaries and heads of offices to ensure that no file is tampered with or taken out of official custody.

The directive also bars unauthorised duplication of records, including scanning or photocopying.

Officials have been asked to maintain a detailed account of all files and key communications. The order further underlines personal accountability — any lapse or deviation will invite action against the concerned officer.

“The Head of Departments and Departmental Secretaries shall personally ensure that this is followed in letter and spirit. Personal responsibility shall be fixed for any instance of deviation,” the order states.

Copies of the directive have been circulated to all additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, the Director General of Police, the Kolkata Police Commissioner, and district magistrates. The Lok Bhavan has also been formally informed.

Soon after the order was circulated and emailed to all the departments, Central forces were deployed outside the state secretariat Nabanna, as well as other secretariat offices in Bikash Bhavan, Jalasampad Bhavan, New Secretariat buildings, and other important installations of the state administration.