Jaipur, April 9 : In a move aimed at curbing unnecessary public expenditure, the Rajasthan government has prohibited its departments from organising events at hotels and private venues.

As per a circular issued by Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, meetings, exhibitions, seminars, and ceremonies must, as far as possible, be held only in government buildings and official auditoriums.

The circular emphasises optimal use of existing government infrastructure and directs all departments, corporations, autonomous bodies, and public sector undertakings (PSUs) to host their events in government-owned facilities. These include well-equipped venues such as the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC), Constitution Club, Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj Institute (IGPRS), Harish Chandra Mathur Rajasthan State Institute of Public Administration (HCM-RIPA), and the State Institute of Agricultural Management (SIAM), Durgapura.

The circular clarifies that events at private venues or hotels will be allowed only under exceptional circumstances. In such cases, prior approval must be obtained in a specially called meeting from a committee headed by the Chief Secretary. The committee will include the Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary of the Finance Department, the Principal Secretary of the General Administration Department (GAD), and the Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary of the concerned department.

The state government said that this decision will ensure proper utilisation of public resources and prevent unnecessary expenditure. It believes the move will improve efficiency in the delivery of government services while reducing wastage and controlling avoidable costs, ultimately leading to better management of funds and more effective governance.

With this directive, the government has effectively ended the routine practice of hosting official events in private venues, reinforcing fiscal discipline and better utilisation of public assets, said officials.

This initiative has been taken for the first time and hence is being discussed across political and bureaucratic corridors. Officials said that there are world-class buildings in Jaipur owned by the state government which remain unused while officials rush to private hotels for different events.

/IANS