In an unprecedented move, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain has given charge of the Secretary (Health) to a 1992-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer. Setting aside the convention of appointing senior IAS officer for the job, the Minister has given the charge of the Health Secretary to Delhi State Health Mission Managing Director Dr Tarun Seem.
In his signed order, Jain said that Seem “shall look after the work of Secretary (Health) in addition to his own duties till either the Secretary (Health) resumes duty or till specific orders for alternative arrangement are made by the undersigned.”
This was perhaps the first occasion when the Health Minister had allocated works to officials through his signed order. As per the transaction of business rules, the Principal Secretaries, who are the administrative heads of departments, are supposed to issue such order. The Ministers at best can issue instructions to them.
The Minister issued the order after Amarnath, a 1994-batch IAS officer, applied for two-month leave from February 1 to April 1, 2016. Amarnath was reported to have miffed with the day-to-day interference of the Health Minister. Prior to Amarnath, Principal Secretary (Power) Shakuntala D Gamlin and Principal Secretary (Urban Development) Chetan B Sanghi had proceeded on long leave as they too were unhappy over the treatment being meted out to them by the AAP Government.
Jain’s order has raised eyebrows as Seem has superseded two senior most bureaucrats -- special secretary (CFS/ Drugs Controller) Dr Mrinalini Darswal and special Secretary (Health) Nikhil Kumar-- within his department. Many bureaucrats feel that Seem has been elevated just because he shares Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s IRS cadre.
Sources said though Amarnath has officially cited ‘personal grounds’ for his two-month leave, he goes on leave unhappy with the Minister’s order directing officials to put up files directly before him. The Minister had allocated work to his special secretary, additional secretary, joint secretary and deputy secretary in the Health Department.
“The Secretary (Health) was not comfortable with day-to-day interference of the Health Minister as he had little control over his subordinates. If the Secretary has no control over his subordinates, then what is the point of being as HoD,” said a senior Delhi Government bureaucrat on the condition of anonymity. In connection with putting up of files by senior bureaucrats, Jain had ordered that the Principal Secretary /Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) shall exercise the powers and perform the functions as per law).