J&K Govt revises financial powers for administrative approval, technical sanction and contracts

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has amended the delegation of financial powers relating to Administrative Approval, Technical Sanction and award of contracts for individual works across the Union Territory.The Finance Department, through a notification issued under Section 67 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, has revised the existing provisions notified vide S.O. 15 dated January 9, 2020.

The amendments are aimed at streamlining the approval process for development works and strengthening the delegation of financial powers at different administrative and engineering levels.Under the revised provisions concerning Administrative Approval, the competent authorities have been assigned enhanced financial limits for sanctioning individual works. Administrative approval powers have been delegated to Chief Engineers and Heads of Departments, including District Development Commissioners, at prescribed levels, while proposals involving higher financial outlays will require concurrence at the appropriate level.

Importantly, the amended provisions stipulate that proposals for administrative approval of projects costing above ₹30 crore, after concurrence of the Finance Department, will be placed before the Council of Ministers for consideration and approval.The notification has also revised the financial limits for according Technical Sanction to detailed estimates of original works, including special repairs, renovations, additions, alterations and improvements not chargeable to maintenance.

Under the amended delegation, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and Assistant Executive Engineers have been assigned specified financial powers for according technical sanctions, subject to the prescribed limits and conditions.For works chargeable to maintenance and repairs, separate technical sanction powers have also been delegated at different engineering levels. The revised framework provides financial limits of up to ₹2 crore, ₹75 lakh and ₹10 lakh at specified levels, according to the nature and value of the works.

The notification further provides that plans and designs for individual works costing above the prescribed thresholds are required to be approved by the concerned Superintending Engineers and Chief Engineers before technical sanction is accorded by the competent engineering authority.The Finance Department has also revised the powers relating to sanctioning and awarding contracts for individual works. Under the amended provisions, the Departmental Contract Committee, Chief Engineer, Superintending Engineer, Executive Engineer and Assistant Executive Engineer have been assigned different financial limits for awarding contracts.

The revised contract-awarding powers extend up to ₹60 crore at the highest delegated level, with corresponding limits of ₹30 crore, ₹10.50 crore, ₹2.25 crore and lower prescribed amounts at subsequent levels.The amendments are expected to facilitate faster decision-making, greater delegation of authority and more efficient execution of development works by reducing procedural delays in obtaining approvals and technical sanctions.

The revised framework is particularly significant for infrastructure and development projects in Jammu and Kashmir, as it seeks to empower field-level authorities and engineering departments to take decisions within clearly defined financial limits while retaining Finance Department and Council of Ministers oversight for higher-value projects.

The notification was issued by the Finance Department (Codes Division), Government of Jammu and Kashmir, under the orders of the Lieutenant Governor. Shailendra Kumar, IAS, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department, issued the notification, while a copy was circulated to all Principal Secretaries, Financial Commissioners, Heads of Departments, District Development Commissioners.