In a major administrative reshuffle, Principal Secretary (Services) Shakuntala Gamlin has been given the additional charge of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). Gamlin will take over as the chairperson from current chairman Jalaj Srivastava who is proceeding on special training in United States after his empanelment to the rank of Additional Secretary. The post of chairperson of NDMC is considered a high profile job in the bureaucratic circles. This apart, half a dozen senior IAS officers have been transferred. RK Verma, Principal Secretary (Technical and Higher Education) is going to retire on November 1. Verma, a 1984 batch IAS officer has sought Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). Secretary (Education) Anindo Majumdar has been given the charge of (Technical and Higher Education). Principal Secretary (Finance and Planning) Dr MM Kutty too is also going for training to US. The Chief Secretary DM Spolia has retained Finance and Planning.
It would be pertinent to mention that Delhi Government has sent a panel of six officials that include labour Commissioner Jitendra Narain, Puneet Goel, Anindo Majumdar, Janak Digal, Vijay Kumar and Dr MM Kutty for the post of Chief Electoral Officer in Delhi. Vijay Dev, who is currently holding the charge of CEO, Delhi is set to join as advisor to the Administrator of Chandigarh. It is expected that Vijay Kumar, who is currently holding the charge of Delhi Jal Board CEO, may replace Dev.
As per orders issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Principal Secretary (Services) Shakuntala Gamlin has been given the additional charge of NDMC chairperson as current chairman Jalaj Srivastava is going abroad for special training. Srivastava has been empanelled to the rank of Additional Secretary rank in his batch. Gamlin is likely to take charge on October 25. It is noteworthy that Gamlin has been lobbying to get the posting in Finance Department. She has been serving with the Delhi administration for the last 20 years since 1994 and whenever a hard posting was due, she managed to go on Central deputation and then come back to the Delhi Government after completing her tenure at the Centre. She was on central deputation twice, the first time for five years after May 1999 and the second time for six years from April 2008. Between 2004 and 2008, she served as Secretary (Services) in the Delhi Government. On April 2, 2008, she again went on Central deputation and joined the Ministry of Health. She returned to Delhi administration in April this year and is currently the Principal Secretary (Services). She will also hold GAD.
A 1984 batch officer Arvind Ray has been given the charge of Home Department after retirement of Archna Arora. Arora has been retired on September 30 on superannuation. Ray will also hold the charge of Principal Secretary (SC/ST/OBC/Minorities) and chairman and MD of Delhi State Financial Development Corporation.
A 1983 batch officer lalmalsawma, who was holding the charge of GAD in Delhi Government will be Chief Secretary in Mizoram from November 1. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued order in this regard. lalmalsawma was also holding the charge of Principal Secretary (Social Welfare & Women and Child Development).
Secretary (Environment) Sanjiv Kumar will hold additional charge of Social Welfare and Women and Child Development Department. According to Services Department, there is acute shortage of officers in Delhi Government at senior level as over two dozen officials are holding dual charges.