Government Orders Statewide Audit of Physical Files Across Departments

The Government of West Bengal has directed all departments to undertake a comprehensive stock-taking of physical files and strengthen record management practices in accordance with existing administrative norms.

In an official order issued on Tuesday, the Chief Secretary instructed all heads of departments and offices to identify, account for, and properly maintain physical records under their custody. The directive emphasizes that all files must be systematically indexed and organized in line with the West Bengal Secretariat Manual.

To streamline the process, Financial Advisors (FAs) have been assigned a central coordinating role. They will be responsible for compiling detailed departmental inventories of physical files and maintaining consolidated records for monitoring and compliance.

The move is aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and efficiency in government functioning, while ensuring that critical records are preserved and easily accessible as per established procedures.