The Ministry of Home Affairs has turned down the Arvind Kejriwal Government’s recommendation to appoint a 1984-batch IAS officer and former DJB CEO Ramesh Negi as Delhi Chief Secretary, saying that the officer is junior and was not empanelled as additional secretary besides a CBI enquiry is also pending against him.
Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia on Thursday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the issue. Rejecting Negi’s name, the MHA has sent a panel of three officials, including former Delhi Chief Secretary and 1980-batch officer Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, Anand Prakash 1979-batch officer and Naini Jayaseelan, a 1980-batch officer to Delhi Government.
Incumbent Chief Secretary DM Spolia is set to retire on February 28. Despite knowing the fact that Negi was not empanelled as additional secretary, the Arvind Kejriwal Government recommended his name for the top post superseding about 13 senior officers. Negi is currently serving as Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh.Top sources told The Pioneer that the MHA had rejected Negi’s empanelment as additional secretary six weeks ago.
When the MHA has sent a panel of three senior most officers of AGMUT cadre, it has made it clear that Negi is too junior as it would not be possible to supersede 13 senior officials to accommodate him for the top post. Interestingly, Negi is considered close to BJP and RSS. The MHA was also upset with Delhi Government as it has deliberately sent a panel of single name.
Sources in the Delhi Government said that Kejriwal has batted for Negi and presented his case, saying that if he can look after the charge of Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh despite all odds, then why not in Delhi. “If any case is pending before CBI, Negi should not be sent to Arunachal Pradesh,” Kejriwal said.
Anand Prakash, 1979-batch IAS officer, is the senior most official in the UT cadre. He is currently serving as Andaman & Nicobar Chief Secretary.The cadre has two serving officials from 1980 batch - Naini Jayaseelan, who is on a Central deputation, and SK Srivastava, who is serving as Financial Commissioner with the Delhi Government. Srivastava was appointed Delhi Chief Secretary during the 49-day rule of the AAP Government.
According to sources, the AAP Government was not impressed with Srivastava’s first tenure. Other IAS officials who are senior to Negi includes Vijay S Madan (1981), who is on Central deputation, Satyawati (1982) is on central deputation, KK Sharma (1982) who is Goa Chief Secretary, JK Dadu (1983) is in Central Government, Nutan Guha Biswas (1983), Principal Secretary to lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, lalmalsawma (1983) is Chief Secretary of Mizoram and, Reena Ray, RK Srivastava, Jalaj Srivastava, Shakuntala Gamlin (all 1984 batch).
According to sources, there are 12-14 officials who are senior of Negi may not report to him or attend his meeting if he becomes Chief Secretary of Delhi. Besides, there were also some adverse remarks by CBI when he was additional commissioner in MCD. Negi had worked as chief executive officer of the Delhi Jal Board prior to his posting in Arunachal Pradesh in 2012.