Overview
- The General Administration Department issued a Government Resolution on Thursday that would have ended central supply of printed newspapers and periodicals to deputy chief ministers, ministers and ministers of state from September 1 in favour of online subscriptions.
- The state revised that order on Friday by modifying paragraph 3 to allow ministers to obtain newspapers and periodicals through online or printed subscriptions depending on their convenience.
- The July 30 order had already said subscription costs for other ministers would be met by their administrative departments from office expenditure provisions after bills were submitted.
- The GAD said the state spends about Rs 22 lakh annually on newspapers and periodicals and that the Chief Minister's Office bill runs about Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 a month, a cost the GAD will continue to bear for the CM.
- The sequence shows a quick administrative reversal that restores long-standing practice of supplying print copies on request and signals internal pushback or feedback after the initial online-only instruction.