Buoyed by the SC verdict, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government in Delhi on Wednesday issued directions to the Chief Secretary and other “babus” to speed up implementation of CCTV and “doorstep delivery of ration” schemes that the party claimed were stuck for months due to getting no green signal from lieutenant-Governor (l-G) Anil Baijal.
Hours after the ruling, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting with his Cabinet colleagues, issuing instruction to all Delhi Government functionaries working under it to act according to the verdict.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged so far the l-G has acted as an “obstructionist” creating hurdles in way of people centric schemes of the AAP Government at the behest of the Central Government. He alleged the l-G acted with “political vendetta” at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Further, indicating a major bureaucratic reshuffle that power corridors of Delhi may witness in coming days, Sisodia said now authority of transfer and postings of babus and subordinate employees would rest with Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Ministers of departments concerned.
He said relevant instructions have been issued to the services department, headed by him, for its compliance.
“Officers of Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Delhi Andaman & Nicobar Island Civil Services (DANICS), other all India Services and officers equivalent to officers of Central services will now be transferred with approval of the CM,” said Sisodia.
“While transfers of Grade 1 DASS, Grade II DASS and private secretaries will be done with the approval of Deputy CM. Grade 3 & Grade 4 DAS, stenos, etc, would be transferred with the approval of Minister of Services department and other employees would be transferred by the minister in-charge of the department,” said Sisodia.
He alleged that after the AAP came to power in Delhi, the Modi Government has made services the fourth reserved subject allegedly in order to render the Delhi Government powerless. He said now after the apex court verdict the Central Government will not dare to bring any subjects into the list of reserved subjects.
He further accused the Central Government and the l-G of grossly misinterpreting the proviso laid in the Constitution of India and act accordingly.
“The l-G who has to act on aid and advice of the Cabinet provided that in case of any difference of opinion has to refer the matter to the Central Government,” but this is grossly misinterpreted as, “the Delhi Government is left with no power and all power rest with the l-G and the decision making is to be made by the l-G,” Sisodia said.
Comparing the AAP Government with the Congress Government under Sheila Dikshit, he said the AAP Government is much less empowered as compared to then Congress Government. “If Sheila Dikshit enjoyed half of the State, the Modi Government left the AAP with only 10 per cent of it,” said Sisodia.
“All files were going to the l-G and he use to sit on every file although he doesn’t enjoyed this power according to the constitution. Now after apex court verdict Delhi government requires no permission from lG on transferred subjects. No file requires to be approved by the l-G except those on three reserved subjects,” said Sisodia.
He said be it the matter of making guest teachers permanent, sending Government school teacher to Finland for training, doorstep delivery of ration or any other matter the l-G obstructed everything.
“I reject, I do not concur, it’s a bad idea is what the l-G use to remark on files,” said Sisodia.
Citing from the Supreme Court order he said, “The l-G should not act in a mechanical manner without due application of mind so as to refer every decisions of the ministers to the President.”
“The difference of opinion between the l-G and Council of Ministers should have sound rationale and there should not be exposition of the phenomenon of an obstructionist,” he cited from the verdict.