The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday removed Delhi Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar Srivastava from the post and put him on compulsory wait list.
Deepak Mohan Spolia, the former Chief Secretary who was removed by the Aam Aadmi Party Government, was once again appointed as the Chief Secretary. The wheel turned a full circle when Spolia replaced Srivastava as Delhi’s new Chief Secretary.Spolia, who had earlier served as Chief Secretary of Delhi between December 2012 and January 2014, was currently holding the charge of Financial Commissioner in the Delhi Government.
Srivastava was perceived as weak and indecisive and was in the habit of coming late for official meetings. His laidback style of functioning was proving to be an impediment for the Delhi Government on key issues, sources said.
The Pioneer had earlier carried a story on Srivastava’s habit of coming late to official meetings. Senior officials of Delhi Government were not happy with his habit of coming late for meetings despite being present in his office at Players Building. Besides, Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay has met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and complained against the “rigid attitude” of certain officials in the city administration.
The Government has not decided on a new posting for Srivastava. Rumours are doing the rounds that he may join the Union Government as Secretary Border Management in the MHA.He had worked as Special Secretary and Financial Adviser at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare before being appointed as Chief Secretary of Delhi by the then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. It is noteworthy that Srivastava was removed from the post of Chief Secretary of Goa in a similar manner.
The MHA order, signed by Under Secretary AK Das said: “It has been decided with the approval of the competent authority to appoint DM Spolia, a 1979 batch IAS officer as the Chief Secretary, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi vice SK Srivastava, an 1980 batch IAS officer, with immediate effect.”
A senior official said on the condition of anonymity that despite President’s Rule, all major infrastructure projects were running behind schedule in Delhi as the Chief Secretary was not taking decisions. His only notable contribution as Chief Secretary was that he has got the bio-metric system installed in all Government offices.
Spolia had played a major role in the regularisation of unauthorised colonies and distribution of certificates to the resident welfare associations of 1,100 unauthorised colonies. Sources said he is being brought back to ensure regularisation of the remaining 800 unauthorised colonies before the next Assembly polls in the city. As a Financial Commissioner, Spolia has prepared a report on the Karbala controversy.
Delhi Congress welcomed Spolia’s re-appointment as Chief Secretary saying the NDA Government at the Centre has reposed faith in an officer who was chosen for the job by the Sheila Dikshit Government. “We welcome Spolia’s appointment as Delhi Chief Secretary. Spolia has played a major role in regularization of 895 unauthorised colonies,” said Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh lovely.