As the tussle between the lieutenant-Governor and the AAP Government aggravated latter’s relation with the bureaucracy, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday took a calculated decision to climb down on his obstinate stance and reinstated Arvind Ray, a 1984-batch IAS officer, as Principal Secretary (General Administration Department). There is also a move to reinstate Aninda Majumdar as Principal Secretary (Services).
Ray, whose name figured in the list of panel of acting Chief Secretary, had been kept without portfolio for one month by the current dispensation. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia had written a note on Ray’s file on May 13 that he should not be made the acting Chief Secretary as he was removed by joint decision of l-G Najeeb Jung and the CM. However, the perception changed quickly and Ray was reinstated as Principal Secretary (GAD) with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Government has convened a meeting of all the Principal Secretaries to explain the transaction of business rules. The papers accessed by The Pioneer say the meeting on Wednesday is an attempt to bridge the gap between the bureaucracy and the Government. According to sources, resentment has been brewing in the bureaucracy over the style of functioning of the Kejriwal Government and over 100 officers have sought transfer out of Delhi .
The situation was aggravated after the office of Principal Secretary (Services) was locked on the orders of the CMO. This didn’t, sources said, go down well with the bureaucracy and even the officers — perceived to be close to the AAP Government — have turned against it. This turn of events is said to be the catalyst that prompted the Government to climb down on Tuesday over its handling of the situation.
Interestingly, the order to reinstate Ray was issued by Rajendra Kumar, the Secretary to CM and in his capacity as Principal Secretary (Services) though his appointment to the post by the AAP Government was declared “ab initio void” by the l-G on Monday.
The Principal Secretary charge of GAD as well as services department was given to Kumar after Aninda Majumdar was divested of both the responsibilities by the AAP Government. “After getting order the black and white, Ray, along with acting Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin, met the l-G in the evening,” said the sources.
According to sources, Gamlin has asked Majumdar to take charge of Principal Secretary (Services) as the lieutenant Governor had already declared the order to transfer him ‘void’ in his case. Sources said that Gamlin has asked Majumdar verbally to take charge of Services department but he is reluctant after Monday incident.
On Monday, Majumdar had found his office in Delhi Secretariat locked. Majumdar was removed on Saturday after he issued an order notifying the appointment of Gamlin as the acting Chief Secretary on Friday. The lieutenant Governor, on the same evening, had declared the order to transfer Majumdar “void”.