Delhi Chief Secretary KK Sharma termed his transfer as the Higher Education Secretary in the Union HRD Ministry as “normal and routine”, while reacting to the possibility of a fresh tussle between the AAP Government and the Centre over it.
“This is a normal, routine transfer for IAS officers who work in the Union Territories and Centre. Officers of the 1983 batch, who have been empanelled a few months earlier, have started getting appointment,” Sharma said on Thursday.
Sharma, a 1983 batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre, has played a key role in implementing the flagship projects of the ruling AAP in the areas of education and health over the last one year.
Sources said transfer of Sharma, who still had more than a year of service left, was not ahead of schedule as he was empanelled as Secretary to the Government of India 4-5 months back.
It is understood that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was in the loop on him being empanelled and his possible transfer to the Centre.
Sharma had apprised the CM, “who did not object to it”, which he could have, sources said. According to guidelines, Sharma will continue to serve in his capacity as Chief Secretary till he is relieved to take up his new charge.
The Ministry of Home Affairs will take a call on the new Chief Secretary “shortly”, said an official, adding that there are several senior officials in the fray for the position, and that the city Government can also recommend names.“Either somebody is appointed and he takes charge else, the senior-most officer is appointed as interim arrangement. In this case it is Home Secretary SN Sahai,” the official said.
Names that could have been considered for the post include Rajendra Kumar, the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister who was suspended following his arrest over graft charges and senior officer Sanjay Srivastava, who will soon take over as Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer.