There may be more officers designated as advisers, officers on special duty (OSD), and PROs than the number of elected representatives. However, according to the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, many of these individuals are self-appointed, as elected representatives are not authorised to appoint them. In other words, even if appointed by elected representatives, such individuals are considered self-appointed.
Without explicitly stating this or providing a complete list of OSDs and PROs, the government clarified that no individual – apart from those formally listed in the official order – has been appointed as a PRO or OSD to any minister, adviser, or MLA.
According to existing guidelines, each minister is entitled to only one OSD, who may be selected from serving or retired government employees or from outside the department.
In an order issued by the Department of Cabinet Affairs, the government noted that multiple instances have come to light where individuals have misrepresented themselves as official representatives of elected officials.
Against the backdrop of misuse of seals and offices, it is a positive step that the government has publicly released the official list. This serves as a clear message: if someone is dealing with self-proclaimed representatives of elected representatives, the government will not be held responsible.