On Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia launched a strident criticism on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for defying the Supreme Court’s order and forcing civil servants in the Delhi Government through Services Department to stall people friendly projects of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government.
“It can’t be a coincidence that most of the IAS officers are refusing to obey orders of the Government in-spite of the the Supreme Court ordersIJ It is very clear that they have instructions from the Centre and PMO to stall the projects of public welfare in Delhi,” said Sisodia adding, “ By doing this through the IAS officials, the Centre is not only killing the democratic and federal structure of the country but is also defying and disregarding the orders of the apex court.”
It may be recalled that on July 4, the SC in its order had made it amply clear that the l-G (representative of the Centre) has powers just on three reserved subjects - Police, land & Public Order and powers on all the other subjects lie with the elected Government of Delhi. “Even after such clear orders of the SC, the PMO and Centre through the IAS officials are defying it openly in Delhi,” Sisodia said.
According to AAP functionaries, civil servants are refusing to comply with the directions of the Cabinet.
From Transport Secretary, Food Commissioner to Managing Director of the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) and Secretary Administrative Reforms (AR) are in the loop to halt Delhi Government projects, they alleged.
Citing the example of transport secretary, Government’s official spokesperson said secretary refused to file the appeal in Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order.
“The High Court order, which was to be challenged in SC, stayed the purchase of 2000 buses for Delhi. The 2,000 new buses once procured would majorly boost the public transport system of the city,” the Government spokesperson said.
However, stalling this process is not only an anti-people but also a clear violation of the Supreme Court order,” said government’s spokesperson.
Referring to law Department, the Delhi Government in its official statement said the law Secretary refused the law Minister’s directions on the Delhi Government’s panel of advocates in Supreme Court and High Court.
“It is a conspiracy to deny the Delhi Government from being represented properly in courts by effective lawyers of its choice,” he said.