India

l-G shifts Delhi Health Secy, 13 other officers

PTI

lt Governor Anil Baijal has transfered Health Secretary Chandraker Bharti, who has been at the loggerheads with the the AAP Government over several issues, including a ban on Chinese manja and his “absence in key meetings”.

Baijal also transfered-posted 13 other IAS officers, giving them new responsbilities in different departments in the Delhi Government.

The order to this effect was issued by the services department on Wednesday.

The lt Governor has appointed Bharti as the Secretary of Environment and Forest. Bharti, a 1996-batch IAS officer, earlier had additional charge of this

department.

Baijal has posted IAS officer Madhup Vyas, a 2000-batch IAS officer, as the new Health Secretary in the Delhi government. Vyas was awaiting posting.

last August, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had demanded the then lt Governor Najeeb Jung that he remove Bharti, who was then Environment Secretary, for a delay in issuing a notification banning Chinese manja. However, the demand was ignored.

In December as well, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendar Jain had slammed Bharti for allegedly refusing to go with the latter to lNJP Hospital following report of a death allegedly due to negligence.

“There is a death in lNH due to negligence. I requested sec health to reach hospital with me. He refused to come saying unavailability of car,” Jain had tweeted after the

incident.

Jain had also accused the officer of not “attending the important meetings”.

Other 13 IAS officers who have been transfered-posted by are Special Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Akash Mohapatra, Special Commissioner (Trade & Taxes) PR Meena, Secretary (languages) N K Sharma.

Mohapatra and Meena have been posted as Special Commissioner (Trade & Taxes) and Special Secretary (PWD) respectively.

Sharma will now look after the charge of Special Secretary (Urband Development).