The ongoing tussle between the AAP Government and lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung over the transfer and posting of senior officers took a new turn on Monday when Principal Secretary (Home) Dharampal had to deploy five policemen, including a sub-inspector and four constables to guard his office at the Delhi Secretariat. This is the first time that a senior officer at the Secretariat had to deploy a police force outside his office to protect documents and files.
The controversy over Dharampal’s removal from the State Home Department had recently escalated when the l-G turned down AAP Government’s order asking Dharampal, the Union Government’s appointee, to move out of his office or face action. The Pioneer on Monday reported that Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Jain has shot a terse note to the officials of the Home Department stating that the AAP Government had already relieved Dharampal and “if he continues to occupy office in this Secretariat, the same will be considered unauthorised occupation and he would be liable for administrative and disciplinary action in this regard.”
However, according to Dharampal, he has not received any letter to this effect but “there have been reports that some elements had tried to disrupt the movement of files of Home Department and when he was not in the office, some people came asking for the files. So, I had to arrange for round-the-clock security.”
Jain’s note further states, “Further, the Chief Secretary may kindly ensure that files of the Home Department should not put up to officers unauthorisedly occupying the post of the Principal Secretary (Home) but to the officer assigned the charge of Secretary (Home).” Jain said that he was also marking a copy of the note to all officers in the Home Department for strict compliance.
The latest missive of Jain comes in the wake of both Kumar and Dharampal working as Principal Secretaries (Home). While Dharampal is signing files from his office on the fifth floor, Kumar is taking decisions related to the department from the third floor. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), too, wrote a letter to Delhi Chief Secretary KK Sharma declaring repatriation order of Dharampal as void ab initio following which the CS had ordered for the removal of Kejriwal-appointed Rajendra Kumar.
“The question is if the appointment of Dharampal is illegal then appointment of Rajendra Kumar was also illegal as lieutenant-Governor had ordered void ab initio Kumar’s appointment,” said a senior officer on the condition of anonymity. Dharampal is said to have prepared a list of files which had been signed by Kumar in the capacity of the Home Secretary.