Ending speculations over giving a third term extension to Naresh Kumar, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday appointed Dharmendra as Delhi’s next Chief Secretary. He is  a 1989 batch of Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. Incumbent Naresh Kumar, a 1987-batch officer, who was given two extensions in the past, completed his tenure on August 31.

“With the approval of the competent authority, Dharmendra, IAS (AGMUT 1989), is hereby transferred from Arunachal Pradesh to Delhi and posted as chief secretary, GNCTD, wef 01.09.2024 or with effect from the date of joining, whichever is later,” according to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs order issued on Saturday. His appointment comes at a time when the administration is focusing on enhancing governance and effective management of the capital. This change comes following Govind Mohan’s recent appointment as Union Home Secretary.

Dharmendra is among the senior-most AGMUT cadre officers and is taking charge as the Delhi chief secretary ahead of the assembly polls due in February. He who has been serving as the Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh since April 2022, before being transferred to Delhi.

His appointment came on the day his predecessor’s three-month extended tenure came to an end. There was speculation over a further extension in view of the polls. In addition to being a bridge between the Centre and the Delhi government, the post of Delhi chief secretary is crucial to the national capital’s administration.

The post has become more significant since the enactment of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023 as part of which the chief secretary is one of the three members of the National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA), which presides over the transfer, posting and vigilance matters of civil servants posted in the city apart from the Delhi chief minister and principal secretary (home).

He has served in several posts in the capital in the past, including divisional commissioner-cum-revenue secretary, NDMC chairperson, deputy commissioner (North West Delhi), and deputy commissioner (East Delhi) in addition to secretary of the industries, environment and irrigation and flood control departments.

He has the formidable task of bridging the gap between Delhi’s elected government, bureaucracy, and Raj Niwas . Known for his low-key demeanor, maintaining this image could be crucial. He assumes this significant role at a critical juncture, with Delhi assembly elections just months away, making his responsibilities even more crucial.

Insiders say some Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) officials expect Kumar to get another six-month term given the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, which are due to be held in early 2025. According to them, Kumar understands the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government best and the role of the Chief Secretary will be critical during the run-up to the elections.  Other DoPT officials said it would be a strange situation if he works under the consultative command of the new Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, who is an IAS officer of the 1989 batch from Sikkim cadre and two batches junior to Kumar. 

 On the other hand, his predecessor was consistently at loggerheads with the AAP government in Delhi during his two-year tenure as chief secretary. His tenure, which began in April 2022 and was extended twice by the Centre, ends on August 31.

Dharmendra, bureaucrats in the Delhi government asserted, would require fine balancing skills, being the crucial link between the “warring” AAP dispensation and the Lt Governor’s Office. During his previous stint in the Delhi government, Dharmendra -- a civil engineer by training -- held various posts, including secretary in the revenue; irrigation and flood control; and industries departments.

He was chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Council before being transferred to Arunachal Pradesh in April 2022. He has also served in the housing and urban affairs and the consumer affairs ministries, as development commissioner for Dadra and Nagar Haveli/Daman and Diu, and resident commissioner of Aizawl.