The tussle between the Kejriwal government and the Center began on Friday with the AAP accusing it of obstructing the transfer of the city services secretary, a day after the Supreme Court asked the Delhi government to stop the transfer and posting of its officers. given control.
Sources said the Delhi government is planning a major bureaucratic reshuffle, even as it faces difficulties in the implementation of its decision to transfer Ashish More, secretary, services department.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has again approached the Supreme Court alleging that the Center is not implementing its decision to transfer Services Secretary Ashish More. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said he would set up a bench to hear the matter next week.
In a statement, the Delhi government claimed that More has refused to consider the file for appointment of a new officer (AK Singh, IAS) to replace him. “Instead of keeping the file, he left the secretariat without informing the office of the Services Minister,” the statement said.
Sources said that More had gone on casual leave on Friday.
The apex court on Thursday ruled that the elected government in Delhi has legislative and executive powers over matters of the Services Department, except those relating to land, police and public order which still fall under the jurisdiction of the lieutenant governor.
More was removed from his post on Thursday, hours after the Supreme Court gave the AAP government control over the transfers and postings of officers in the city.
Sources claimed that More has still not been transferred as he was ordered to be removed from his post against the established procedure.
Even as More’s transfer does not take effect, the AAP government is set for a massive reshuffle of senior officials, including several principal secretaries and heads of departments. This will happen when the court will decide in the present case.
Soon after the Supreme Court’s decision on Thursday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said a major reshuffle of officials in the city government would be done in the coming days. He also warned that the officials who allegedly obstructed work would “face the consequences”.
Sources claimed that the decision to transfer More was taken without keeping Delhi’s Civil Services Board (CSB) in the loop. He said that in More’s case, the rule of placing the matter first for the consideration of the board was not followed.
The CSB was constituted by the Government of Delhi in 2014 as per the All India Services (Cadre) Rules, 1954.
The Board is mandated to examine the cases of officers who are proposed to be transferred before completion of their minimum tenure, and seek justification for doing so.
It was also claimed by sources that the decision to transfer More was taken despite the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification placing the services department under the LG’s jurisdiction, which was struck down on Thursday following a Supreme Court order. Had to be taken back in the light.
In its statement, the Delhi government said that in order to initiate a large-scale administrative reshuffle, Services Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj directed More to submit a file for transfer of a new officer to the post of Secretary, Services Department.
“Disturbingly, it has come to light that, possibly under the influence of the Central Government, the Special Secretary, Services Department, sent a communication to Services Minister Bhardwaj, indicating that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification dated May 21, 2015, has now has not been segregated till date,” it said.
No file was initiated by him for appointment of any new officer to the post of Services Secretary.
It has been brought to the notice of More that his “failure to comply with the orders of the Supreme Court” would potentially be considered as “contempt of court”, read the Delhi government’s statement.
In its statement, the Delhi government alleged, “It is unfortunate that the central government and the lieutenant governor are reluctant to comply with the directions of the country’s highest court.”
There was no immediate response from the Lt Governor’s office on the allegations leveled by the AAP government.
Meanwhile, at the secretariat, the ministers held a meeting with officials, took stock of the situation and discussed pending projects and programs of the government. Officials said that the Chief Minister also reached the Secretariat.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)