In an apparent move to contain mighty IAS, a technocrat has been elevated to post of Secretary in the Delhi Government. PWD’s engineering in chief Sarvagya Srivastava, who was appointed as Special Secretary PWD on Friday last week, was made Secretary on Wednesday. Srivastava’s appointment order has been issued by the PWD Minister in contravention of laid down rules as the consent of lieutenant Governor is mandatory in the appointment of secretaries and Principal Secretaries.
The Government has now given charge of Secretary (PWD) to Engineer-in-Chief Sarvagya Srivastava. The order to this effect has been issued by PWD Minister Satyendra Jain. “Sarvagya Srivastava, Engineering in chief with additional charge of special secretary (works) shall look after the work of Secretary (PWD) in addition to his own duties till either the secretary (PWD) resumes duty or till specific orders for alternative arrangement are made,” Jain said in his order. Prior to this order, Jain had given him additional charge of PWD special secretary (works) last week.
This is an indication to curtail the role of bureaucracy in its day-to-day functioning. The AAP Government’s move to appoint doctors and engineers seems to be the fallout of a day’s mass casual leave protest by DANICS and IAS officers in wake of suspension of two special secretaries of the Home Department who had allegedly refused to sign two Cabinet notes.
According to sources, Jain’s move to give additional charge of the Special Secretary to Srivastava has not gone well with a section of bureaucrats who feel that the government was unnecessarily targeting them and undermining their authority by allocating bureaucratic work to doctors and engineers. “The decision making process and policy framing is the sole prerogative of the bureaucrats. Engineers can make estimate about the project but whether the bidding process is as per ruleIJ Whether estimate is made as per market rate or guidelines of CVC was followed, “ said a bureaucrat.