Key departments go headless as senior IAS officers reluctant to join city Govt
The political uncertainty in Delhi is not only taking a toll on infrastructural development for the past one year but is also hampering day-to-day functioning of the administration. Many senior duty posts are lying vacant as there is some reluctance among the bureaucrats to remain or join the Delhi Government, which was once considered to be a plum posting, due to political uncertainty.
Top sources told The Pioneer that around 12 senior IAS officers have stymied attempts by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to transfer them to Delhi. This comes at a time when some, who are being posted in the national Capital, are also trying to get out. “Due to the bureaucrats’ reluctance, many posts in key departments are lying vacant hampering the work of the Delhi Government. As things stand, there is a shortage of 24 officials at the senior level in the National Capital,” said the sources.
There are a total of 103 posts for IAS officers in the Delhi Government with 56 of them being senior duty posts (for those with 12 or more years of service).
For instance, 1985-batch officer Parimal Rai, who has completed his two years in Goa, is reluctant to join the Delhi Government. A 1984-batch officer Ramesh Negi, who is serving as Chief Secretary in Arunachal Pradesh, has also completed his two-year tenure outside Delhi but is not interested in coming back to Delhi. 1984-batch officer KK Sharma, who was posted as advisor to Chandigarh administrator, opted to join Central Government’s Women and Child Development Department. Interestingly Sharma was lobbying for the post of Chief Secretary of Goa.
Satbir Silas Bedi, a 1986 batch officer has preferred to go on Central Deputation for five years. She is currently posted as Joint Secretary in the Human Resource Development Ministry. Dr Anand Prakash, a 1979-batch officer, is posted in Andamans as Chief Secretary.
Despite the MHA issuing his transfer order several months ago, he has not joined the Delhi Government till date. Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev was keen to join as advisor to Chandigarh Administrator. With the announcement of by-elections for three vacant seats in Delhi, the transfer of Dev is seemed to be put on hold. Keshav Chandra, a 1995-batch officer, who was transferred to the Delhi Government, also preferred to go to london on study leave. A 1984-batch officer Rajni Kant Verma has opted to VRS. Two senior officials- Dr MM Kutty (1985 batch and Jalaj Srivastava (1984 batch) have already gone to USA for special training.
The shortage of officials could be gauged as charges of 12 crucial departments that include Finance, Home, General Administration, Tourism, Planning, IT, Power, Social Welfare, Revenue, Higher Education, New Delhi Municipal Council and Chief Electoral Office-have been without their heads and some of officials are holding dual charges to take care of day to day functioning.
It may be noted that Chief Secretary DM Spolia, is currently holding the charge of Planning, Finance and Vigilance departments in the absence of senior officers. A 1984-batch officer, Arvind Ray has been holding the additional charge of Home Department after its head Archna Arora, a 1983-batch IAS officer, retired on September 30. Ray is the Principal Secretary (SC/ST/OBC/Minorities), and Chairman and MD of Delhi State Financial Development Corporation.
SS Yadav, who heads Food and Supply Department as well as Directorate of Information and Publicity, holds the additional charge of the Tourism Department. Jitendra Narain is holding the dual charge of Secretary cum labour Commissioner.
Similarly, Principal Secretary (Services) Shakuntala Gamlin has been given the additional charge of New Delhi Municipal Council Chairperson as current Chairman Jalaj Srivastava is going abroad for special training. Srivastava has been empanelled to the rank of Additional Secretary. She has also been given the additional responsibility of General Administration after 1983-batch IAS officer lalmalsawma, who was heading General Administration, has been transferred to Mizoram.
After Principal Secretary of Power Department Arun Goyal, a 1985-batch IAS officer, has been transferred to Mizoram, Amit Yadav has been tasked to head the department. Yadav is already Chief Managing Director of Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation and Secretary-cum-Commissioner of Industries.
Similarly Education Department Secretary Anindo Majumdar has been given the charge of Technical and Higher Education from November 1 as Verma has opted for VRS. Transport Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti has been given additional charge of Divisional Commissioner of Revenue Department.