In a major development, the Delhi Government has revoked its order on appointment of Jitendra Narain, a 1990 batch IAS officer as Principal Secretary (Elections) issued on October 1 following strong reservations expressed by the Election Commission of India which termed it as a clear violation of the Representation of People’s Act.
The Pioneer was the first to report the development on September 30. It was stated that the move had sparked a debate among experts that this could lead to virtual clash as the power to conduct electoral process was vested in the chief electoral officer, who reports to the Election Commission of India as far as Assembly and lok Sabha elections are concerned while State Election Commission conducts municipal elections in the national Capital and Chandigarh.
Also, there were fears that the move would overlap the working area and amounts to infringement of rights of officials. The Government had created the post which had been non-existent since 1993. The Government’s decision had also raised a vital question on what could be the role of the Principal Secretary (Elections) in Delhi.
“The ECI in its notification dated December 26, 2014 made it clear that the chief electoral officer Delhi should not be held any additional charge whatsoever under the Delhi Government except that he should be designated secretary to the government in charge of election department in the State secretariat,” said a senior officer of ECI on the condition of anonymity.
So far, there has been a clear understanding that the CEO would also be holding the charge of the secretary (elections).
It is noted this was not the only occasion when the Arvind Kejriwal Government had bypassed the lieutenant Governor in transfer and posting of its senior bureaucrats. Even Chief Secretary was not informed about this post.
The copy of the order has been forwarded to Director (Services) Ministry of Home Affairs, Research officer of Career Management Divison of Department of Personnel and Training and Secretary to lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung of Delhi.