The recent feud between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung is nothing new but had its origins in the early days of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government when the LG had served a <g data-gr-id="50">showcause</g> notice to S N Sahai, who was appointed acting Chief Secretary by Kejriwal after the retirement of D M Spolia. The CM office has thrown the rule book at the LG alleging regular interference in the domain of <g data-gr-id="51">‘council</g> of ministers’.
“Why was the post of Chief Secretary lying vacant for 10 days from February 28 to March 10? Why had the LG not appointed an Acting Chief Secretary then?” asked a senior officer in the Chief Minister’s Office rebutting the LG’s argument that the post of Chief Secretary can’t be left vacant.
“The LG had issued a show cause notice to S N Sahai who was appointed acting Chief Secretary by the Delhi Chief Minister for that period. It means there was no Chief Secretary in Delhi for that period of time,” argued the officer.
The matter dates back to the earlier days of the AAP government when former Delhi Chief Secretary D M Spolia retired on February 27 and there was a huge tussle between AAP government and Centre on the chief secretary pick. Kejriwal government had opted for Ramesh Negi who was reportedly junior in rank and finally both agreed on the name of <g data-gr-id="45">K K</g> Sharma who joined as Chief Secretary of Delhi on March 10.
In the present <g data-gr-id="49">case</g> the Chief Minister’s Office has shortlisted six senior IAS officers to be considered as Acting Chief Secretary in Delhi. They were — Naini Jayaseelan, Arvind Rey, S P Singh, Shakuntala Gamlin, Parimal Rai and S N Sahai. The senior most among them is 1980 batch IAS officer Jayaseelan but she turned down the offer. According to sources in CMO, both LG and CM agreed not to appoint Arvind Rey and S P Singh. Of the three remaining officers, LG vetoed S N Sahai. CMO finally sent the list of two officers to LG Secretariat — Parimal <g data-gr-id="48">Rai ,Shakuntala</g> Gamlin.
According to CMO the chief minister had verbally conveyed that he was against Gamlin and indicated his preference for Rai, but LG appointed Gamlin.
“In Section 50 of Transaction of Business Act (TBA), it is clearly mentioned that in case of difference on any matter LG shall refer the matter to the President through Union Home Ministry but LG violated the rule by acting himself,” said the officer.
In fact, the LG violated for rules of TBA – Section 49, 50, 51 and 55 claimed the officer.