The Delhi Government’s Service Department is all set to initiate action against 437 private persons appointed as advisers, fellows and consultants by the Aam Aadmi Party government following the Supreme Court’s ruling dismissing the plea of Delhi government seeking stay on the Service’s Department order to this effect.
Top sources said the Supreme Court has not struck down its July 5 order on removal of these fellow/assistants and consultants issued by the Services Department.
The top court has dismissed the plea seeking stay of this order. “Now, action is to be taken as per the letter dated July 05, 2023 immediately for removal of Fellows / Associate Fellows / Consultants, etc., failing which Services Department would be required to proceed against the Head of the Departments as per the said letter”, sources said.
Appearing for the Lieutenant Governor, counsel Harish Salve submitted that the consultants were terminated because their appointment was arbitrary.
Arguing on behalf of the Delhi government, counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the Lieutenant Governor has terminated the contract of 437 consultants working with various departments of the government of NCTD without any consultation with the elected government. Additionally, the letter issued by the Lieutenant Governor on 5 July 2023 terminating the engagement of specialists/fellow/consultants is also sought to be stayed.
The controversy erupted afterhe Delhi government Services Department issued an order that 437 private persons appointed as advisers, fellows and consultants whom the Arvind Kejriwal government hired via “back door entry” are “void ab initio” (void from the beginning) and asked the departments concerned to stop their services.
The Lieutenant Governor secretariat has alleged that the AAP-led government employed 437 individuals, most of whom were found to be party workers, to run a “parallel civil service” while flouting “constitutional norms of reservation”, “manipulating the selection process” and “rigging the selection criterion”.
