State's Sahyadri Guest House used for hosting Cooking compitition

Though there exists a detailed GR detailing the program that can be hosted at the Maharashtra Govts Sahyadri Guest House, instances of misuse has surfaces. IAS Wives Association headed by Mrs Tanuja Mallik, wife of Chief Secretary Sumit Mallik has held the Cooking compitition at the Sahyadri Guest House. As per the information provided by the Maharashtra govt to RTI Activist Anil Galgali, it seems that the Protocol Department has indulged in abject surrender before the wishes of the IAS officer wives.

RTI Activist Anil Galgali had sought information from the government, regarding the rules and regulations of the usage of the state owned Sahyadri Guest House and also details of the programme conducted there in the past three years. The GAD's Protocol Department provided Galgali with details of usage in the past 6 months. During the period of 1st March 2017 to 17th July 2017 the guest house was reserved for 139 occasions and a revenue of Rs 28,83,197 was generated as Rental charges. In these 6 months the IAS Wives Association reserved the guest house 4 times and a rent of Rs 6150 was charged to them. On 9 March 2017 the guest house was reserved for the occasion of the handover of the Presidentship from Mrs Kshatriya to Mrs Mallik, and on 8th July 2017 the same guest house was reserved for holding the Cooking compitition. Apart from the above the reservation for dates 2n
18th April and 20th May were also purposes beyond the scope of allotted purposes. Similarly on 14th June BJP MLA Raj Purohit had made reservations, and Joint Secretary Lata Nandkumar too made reservations on 22nd June 2017 without mentioning the purpose of reservation on the telephonic instructions from Dy Secretary Bhoge. As per the GR Dr 24th July 2015, the Sahyadri Guest House can be reserved for Meeting, Workshops, and Press Conferences headed by Either The Chief Minister, Dy Chief Minister, Minister's, Minister of State, Chief Secretary, Addl Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Secretary or Officer of similar status. Inspite of the clear GR the reservation were made for the IAS officer wives Association violating the rules of allotment, stated Galgali. Galgali further stated that, the government which rues holding public hearings at the Sahyadri Guest House, is allotting it for private use.

#  Sanjay Kumar was Winner....

Sanjay Kumar, Addl Chief Secretary was adjudged the winner of the Cooking compitition held at the Sahyadri Guest House in violation of the norms. He won the compitition by making Paratha's within 2 hours. This declaration was made by Mrs Tanuja Mallik in the July month edition of a Magazine 'Harmony'.

In a letter addressed to CM Devendra Fadnavis, Anil Galgali has demanded that, action should be initiated against officers who cooperated in violating the norms and also commercial rent charges should be recovered from the IAS officer wives Association and MLA Raj Purohit. And rules be made that in future the rent be charged according to the type of program being booked for so that the government can generate additional revenue for usage of the Sahyadri Guest House.