Kejriwal leads fight on ‘Services’ as officers join new assignments

So far, except Principal Secretary (Home) Dharampal, all the officers transferred by the AAP government have started working on their new assignments after initial hiccups.  

“The officers transferred by the government have joined their new posts and are working accordingly. Even those who had earlier expressed reservations citing the issue of jurisdiction are now working on their new assignments,” said spokesperson of Delhi government. 

The controversy on the issue of transfer and posting began on May 15 when in pursuance of the LG order, the then Principal Secretary (Services) <g data-gr-id="34">Anindo</g> Majumdar issued an order to appoint Shakuntala D Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary. On the directions of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds Services portfolio, the Services and General Administration Department (GAD) were taken from Majumdar and he was put on the “waiting list”. 

The order of the government was overruled by the <g data-gr-id="32">LG</g> but the government refused to obey. In a dramatic turn of events, Majumdar on May 27 was appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Delhi Financial Corporation (DFC). 

Majumdar joined his new assignment and is presently working there. Arvind Ray is working as Principal Secretary GAD and Rajender Kumar is performing duties of Secretary, Services Department.  

In the case of Majumdar, the LG Secretariat claimed that it had the sole authority to take decisions on transfer and posting of IAS officers at the rank of Secretary and Principal Secretary.

In the notification issued by Ministry of Home Affairs on May 21, it was further asserted that the transfer and posting of IAS, DANICS and DANIPS officers was the domain of the LG only who exercises the powers of the Central government. The matter is, however, pending in Delhi high court but so far around four dozen IAS and DANICS officers who were transferred by the Delhi government have joined their new assignments — some silently and some after initial hiccups.  

A controversy had arisen when Delhi government appointed V K Jain as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DUSIB as he was much junior for the post. “Some members of DUSIB departments are senior IAS officers than Jain. He was promoted from DANICS and is too junior in rank,” said a senior officer of DUSIB. However, Jain is working as CEO while former CEO Amarnath is working on his new assignment as Secretary (Health). Similarly, <g data-gr-id="44">Naredra</g> Kumar who was Principal Secretary (Urban Development) is now only Managing Director, Delhi SC/ST/OBC/Minorities & Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (DSFDC). Kumar has two years left for his retirement. On Friday, the Delhi government took over Industries Department from Shakuntala D Gamlin and assigned it to Chetan B Sanghi.