Finally, the AAP Government has given charge of the principal secretary (home) to a1985 batch IAS officer Parimal Rai. The Delhi Secretariat had been functioning without a home secretary for about two weeks. Ever since principal (secretary) Sanjeev Nandan Sahai had gone for his training to South Africa, no other officer had been assigned the job of the home secretary. Sahai is likely to return to work November 6.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued an order assigning Parimal Rai as new home secretary. “I am directed to refer to GNCTD’s letter no F.8/25/2015/S.I/3469 dated October 8, 2015, on the subject cited above and to convey the approval of the competent authority for assignment of additional charges of Principal Secretary (Home) to Parimal Rai, 1985 batch officer during the leave/training period of SN Sahai,” said the Home Ministry in a communiqué to Delhi Government’s chief secretary and lieutenant Governor office on Friday.
Rai not only heads the social welfare department, but also has been entrusted with the additional charge of the transport secretary.
Prior to Rai, no senior officer was reportedly willing to discharge the duties of the home secretary as the post had been linked to controversies ever since lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung had appointed senior IAS officer Dharam Pal for the job.
According to sources, both Chetan B Sanghi, who is holding five departments including Urban Development, Directorate of local Bodies, DSIIDC, Industries, Public Works Department and Vigilance and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s staff officer Rajendra Kumar who is holding the charge of finance (in the absence of SN Sahai), Services, Development have reportedly declined the offer citing heavy work pressure.
Similarly, the post of home secretary was also offered to Keshav Chandra but lieutenant Governor’s office stated that he is too young for the post. The controversy pertains to home department forcing the bureaucrats to stay away from the post of home secretary which is considered as sensitive posting in the Government.
It is also a fact that there was a occasion when home department was being headed by two senior IAS officers. While Dharam Pal was appointed by the l-G, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal gave the charge to his trusted lieutenant and secretary Rajendra Kumar. This was perhaps the first occasion in the history of the city Government that the same department was being headed by two senior bureaucrats.
Both Dharam Pal and Kumar had started signing files related to the home department. Things had come to such a pass that Dharam Pal had even sought help of the Delhi Police to guard his office from any attempt being made by any officer to take any file without his prior permission.
While Dharam Pal was removed by the AAP Government after he signed a notification appointing joint commissioner of police M.K. Meena as the anti-corruption branch head, the l-G termed the AAP Government’s order on Kumar’s appointment as “null and void.”
Finally, the Union home ministry had removed Dharam Pal and appointed Sahai as a consensus candidate for the high-profile post in July, thus putting an end to a bitter tussle between Jung and the AAP Government.