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By Pankaj Jain: Hours after the Supreme Court’s verdict on the services issue, Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said the Department Secretary, after being asked to make way for his replacement, “unexpectedly left the Secretariat” and switched off his phone on Thursday.
The apex court on Thursday gave the elected regime in the national capital the power to make laws and wield control over the bureaucrats in the Delhi government departments.
Kejriwal, during a press briefing that followed the Supreme Court’s ruling, said the government will carry out a large-scale reshuffle in the bureaucracy.
In a statement issued on Friday, Bharadwaj accused the Secretary, Ashish More, of acting in “gross contempt of court” by not complying with the Supreme Court judgment.
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“Services Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj (on Thursday) instructed Services Secretary Ashish More to present a file for the transfer of a new officer to the post of the Secretary of the Department. However, Ashish More unexpectedly left the Secretariat without notifying the Minister’s office, rendering himself unreachable while his phone also remained switched off,” the statement issued by the AAP leader said.
“Disturbingly, it has come to light that, possibly under the influence of the Central Government, the Special Secretary of the Services Department sent a communication to Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, indicating that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification dated May 21, 2015, has not yet been set aside. Along with this, the Services Secretary has not even initiated a file for posting a new officer,” the statement read.
The statement by Saurabh Bhardwaj read, “It is unfortunate that the Central government and the Lieutenant Governor seem unwilling to adhere to the directives of the highest court in the country. The elected Delhi government remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, efficiency, and good governance, and will take all necessary steps to ensure that the administration serves the best interests of the people of Delhi.”
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