Delhi Chief Secretary KK Sharma, who had gone on a 10-day leave, has resumed charge with effect from Monday. After resuming the charge, Sharma met lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung at Raj Niwas. Well-placed sources said that Sharma has attended a meeting with lieutenant Governor. Rumours were doing rounds that Sharma may not join Delhi Government after showcause notice by the Chief Minister.
In the absence of Sharma, a political battle erupted between Jung and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over appointment of the secretaries and other officials in the national Capital. The tussle was triggered by the appointment of senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin as the acting Chief Secretary on May 15. Kejriwal accused Gamlin of lobbying for power discoms.
The row escalated into a situation where another bureaucrat, Principal Secretary (Services) Anindo Majumdar, was locked out of his office at the Delhi Secretariat last week. It was reportedly done on the orders of Kejriwal as Majumdar had followed Jung’s instruction to appoint Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary.
The turf war over transfers and postings of bureaucrats consequently led to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issuing a gazette notification specifying powers of the lieutenant Governor in Delhi. The MHA notification asserted the lieutenant Governor’s power on public order and services.