The newly-formed BJP government in Delhi has terminated all co-terminus appointments in the offices of the former chief minister and cabinet ministers. The decision comes just a day after Rekha Gupta assumed office as the Chief Minister of Delhi. This decision marks the beginning of a new administrative structure under the current leadership, ensuring a fresh start for governance.

An official order stated, "All the officers, officials and staff from various departments, organisations, corporations, boards, hospitals, etc. 'deployed in diverted capacity' in the offices of CM and ministers shall be deemed to have been relieved from duties with immediate effect and shall report to their respective departments, boards, autonomous bodies, corporations, hospitals, etc. with immediate effect."

It further added, "The offices of CM and Ministers will submit fresh proposals to GAD… However, regular staff of DANICS, DSS and Steno cadre will continue to work in their respective offices under the newly sworn-in Chief Minister, Ministers till further orders."

Furthermore, the directive states that fresh proposals for staffing in the Chief Minister's and Ministers' offices will be submitted to the General Administration Department (GAD). However, regular staff belonging to DANICS, DSS, and the Stenographer cadre will continue to serve in their respective roles under the newly sworn-in Chief Minister and cabinet ministers until further notice.

Further, the government officers and personal staffers appointed to departments different than theirs by the previous regime have been instructed to immediately report back to their original departments, according to an official order dated February 20.

Formation of newly elected government warrants fresh appointment of staff of all categories as appointments automatically get terminated on resignation of the then Hon'ble Chief Minister/ Ministers. Accordingly, the deployment and appointment of officers has to take place afresh after taking of oath and assumption of Office by the new Hon'ble Chief Minister/Cabinet Ministers," the order signed by Deputy Secretary (Services) Bhairav Dutt said.

Last week, in order to crackdown on the 'tentacles' of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) within the Delhi government, Delhi Chief Secretary Dharmendra has asked all Secretaries and Heads of Department to compile a list of appointments of chairpersons and members made by the previous AAP government.

The move may spark controversy as the AAP government had faced allegations of appointing party members and close aides of ministers to various non-official posts, allegedly bypassing established laws and government regulations.

In July 2023, the Delhi Services Department had ordered that 437 private persons appointed as advisers, fellows and consultants via "back door entry" by the Aam Aadmi Party government are "void ab initio" (void from the beginning) and directed the departments concerned to stop their services.

The 437 appointments include 140 fellows and associate fellows appointed at the Delhi Assembly Research Centre (DARC) since 2019. The Services department had compiled the information received from 23 departments and agencies of the Delhi government that engaged private persons as "specialists".