MHA directs CM's Secy to comply with its order

Taking a strong view of defying its order, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Secretary Rajendra Kumar to comply with its order through the lieutenant Governor. In a letter to Delhi Chief Secretary KK Sharma, the MHA reminded the Delhi Government that whatever has been communicated to it (Delhi Government) was as per existing laws.

Insiders, however, said that the Ministry was divided on taking any action against Kumar as he was only following an order Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Jain. “Some wanted to issue him a censure but that would have spoilt his promotion opportunities in future. Since he was complying with the order given by an elected representative, we have decided not to recognise his post at all,” the insiders said. 

The Delhi Government had received the Home Ministry’s communiqué four days back. In its communiqué, the MHA said that it recognised only its appointee Dharampal as Principal Secretary (Home) and any other person sitting on a similar post created by Delhi Government does not exist for it.

The Ministry also told the Delhi Government that for all official purposes, they would be communicating with Dharampal, a 1988-batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre, which is controlled by MHA. It also clarified that services is the exclusive domain of lieutenant Governor of Delhi.Following the MHA’s order, Sharma too wrote to Kumar that the Delhi Government’s order stands rescinded.

Despite the orders of Home Ministry and the Chief Secretary, the Kejriwal Government dug in its heels and continued to boycott Dharampal. Now the situation has been aggravated further as two Home Secretaries are struggling to assert their authority.Both Kumar and Dharampal are signing files which come to Home DepartmentDharampal was removed by the Kejriwal Government from the post after he notified the appointment of Joint Commissioner MK Meena as ACB chief following the lG’s direction.

MHA had earlier revoked the decision of the Kejriwal Government to repatriate Dharampal to the Centre, terming it “ab initio void” and asserted that powers to transfer AGMUT cadre officers rest only with the Centre.