The Delhi Government’s services department has clarified to the Assembly Secretariat that three officers posted there have sought transfer and submitted applications in this regard. In a letter to Delhi Assembly Secretary, a Deputy Secretary of the Services department said there were requests for transfer by three officers posted as deputy secretaries in the assembly on the completion of three years at the posts held by them. In fact, two officers were posted at the Assembly Secretariat for more than five years, said the Services department letter.
The clarification comes in response to accusations by Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel in a press conference last month, that the officers of Services department were "threatening" officers of Assembly Secretariat with disciplinary action and transfer.
The three assembly officers were Sadanand Sah, posted since September 4, 2019, Sunil Dutt Sharma, posted since July 20, 2018, and C Velmurugan, posted since February 19, 2015. "The above officers have submitted advance applications at their own. However, in view of the observations made by the the Speaker, I am directed to request the Secretary, Delhi Legislative Assembly to take this factual status on record and to convey any comments within a week time so that the Services department process such requests," said the letter by deputy secretary of Services department.
The tussle between the Delhi assembly and officers at Delhi government's Services and Vigilance departments has been going on since 116 fellows recruited under the Delhi Assembly Research Centre Fellowship Programme at the Assembly Secretariat were removed on the orders of Lt Governor VK Saxena in July this year.
Earlier, Assembly speaker charged Special Secretary (Vigilance and Services) with pressurizing Assembly officials in connection with a complaint against him being investigated by the Welfare of OBCs [Other Backward Classes] Committee and the Committee of Privileges. The Speaker said there have been “attempts to paralyse the Assembly Committees and Secretariat” by the Delhi government’s Service Department.
Goel said officials of the Services Department rang up Assembly officials on August 28-29. “The [Assembly] officials were asked to submit requests in writing seeking transfer from the Secretariat,” the Speaker said, adding that the Assembly officials were told that if they did not cooperate, they could face suspension and disciplinary action.
“In such a situation it is shocking that the Officers of the Services Department would dare to call the officers of the Assembly and pressurize them with threat of transfer and disciplinary action.
This is a direct interference in the working of the Legislature unheard of in any other State,” he said
