Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Friday that files pertaining to the transfers and postings of officials have stopped coming to them after the Delhi High Court verdict and alleged that lieutenant- Governor Najeeb Jung has “taken away” the powers of Chief Minister and Ministers to appoint even their peons and clerks by issuing an order.
“The AAP Government is not even in a position to transfer a peon,” said Sisodia and appealed to the l-G that Principal Secretary (PWD) and Health Secretary should not be removed as they are looking after the Government’s ambitious projects, including setting up of mohalla clinics and construction of new school buildings.
It is noted that both the officers are ex-cadre officials and the AAP Government apprehends that the l-G may remove all ex-cadre officials, including PWD Secretary and Health Secretary. Principal Secretary (PWD) Sarvagaya Srivastava is from engineering service while Dr Tarun Seem who is Health and Family Welfare Secretary is from medical profession.
Addressing a Press conference, Sisodia said after the l-G’s order, elected Chief Minister and Ministers don’t have power to appoint their peons and clerks. “There is no confusion after the High Court which states that services come under the l-G. In today’s meeting, I have requested not to remove PWD and Health Secretaries as both officers are engaged in projects like mohalla clinics and construction of new school buildings,” Sisodia said.
In his order dated August 9, Jung directed that all service matters, including transfers/postings of IAS/DANICS officers with the recommendations of Civil Services Board in case of IAS officers will be placed through Chief Secretary, Delhi directly before the l-G for his considerations and orders.
“Keeping in view the spirit of the notification dated May 21, 2015 (lieutenant-Governor shall in respect of matters connected with public order, police, land and services as stated hereinabove exercise the powers and discharge the functions of the Central Government to the extend delegated to him from time to time by the President of India), I will obtain the views of Hon’ble Chief Minister in service matters wherever I deem appropriate,” Jung said.
Sisodia said mohalla clinics and schools are the best initiatives that they have been undertaking and hence requested the l-G to let them work. “Even if we have to beg or request the l-G, we would do it but we would not let the work stop for the benefit of the national Capital. The Delhi Government has initiated the process of appointing professionals as secretaries which motivated people in these departments,” he also said.
“The Chief Minister has also directed all Ministers to work even for 48 hours but people’s works should not be affected. It doesn’t matter if we have been deprived of all powers, we will still continue to work,” Sisodia further said.
On the other hand, the l-G’s office has clarified that the order is in only restricted to the transfer and postings of IAS, DANICS officers and said Civil Services Board has been reconstituted by the l-G to ensure “transparency” in bureaucratic reshuffle the same.
Refuting Deputy’s CM claim that Ministers don’t have power to appoint peons and clerks, the l-G office clarified that the l-G has constituted ‘Civil Services Board’ on August 9 to look into transfer and postings of IAS and (Delhi, Andaman Nicobar Island Civil Services) officers. “The order to constitute Civil Services Board to be headed by Chief Secretary was also endorsed by the Deputy CM in the August 9 meeting with the l-G. There is no mention that Ministers don’t have power to appoint even peons and clerks,” an official from the l-G office said.
last week, the High Court had pronounced that the l-G is the administrative head of Delhi.