The Arvind Kejriwal Government in Delhi has a strange way of dealing with bureaucrats if they do not toe the Government line. Shakuntala D Gamlin, Principal Secretary of Power, was appointed acting Chief Secretary by the lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung. After Jung appointed Gamlin from the panel that includes Naini Jayaseelan (1980 batch), Arvind Ray and SP Singh (both of 1984), all hell broke loose and AAP Government issued a Press statement and alleged her to be close to a power distribution company. It would be pertinent to mention that Gamlin has been holding the charge of Principal Secretary (Power) in the AAP Government since February 14.
She has now been accused of being close to a discom. This is the first time that an elected Government has been accusing its officials openly. The question is if Gamlin was close to discoms or BSES, why was she not removed from the Power DepartmentIJ “Why has the Government not issued a showcause notice to her to this effectIJ” asked a Government official on condition of anonymity, adding that the lieutenant Governor has proved he is the only boss in Delhi. Slamming the move, AAP Government said the lieutenant Governor cannot bypass the elected Government and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and that he acted against “the Constitution, GNCT of Delhi Act and the Transaction of Business Rules.”
“The lieutenant Governor does not have the extraordinary powers under the Constitution to bypass the elected Government and issue instructions directly to the Secretaries, whatever be the provocation,” the AAP Government said in a statement. It said Jung, in an “extraordinary manner,” issued instructions directly to the Secretary (Services) to give the additional charge of Chief Secretary to Gamlin. Chief Secretary KK Sharma has left for the US on a personal visit due to which the Government had to appoint an acting Chief Secretary.