File photo Manish Sisodia.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today alleged that Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has "taken away" the powers of chief minister and ministers to appoint even their peons and clerks by issuing an order, the move that comes days after high court stamped the primacy of the Lieutenant Governor in administration of Delhi.
The Lieutenant Governor's office has clarified that the order is in only restricted to the transfer and postings of IAS, DANICS officers and said that Civil Services Board has been constituted by the Lieutenant Governor to ensure "transparency" in bureaucratic reshuffle.
The deputy chief minister has also requested Lieutenant Governor Jung not to transfer government's two top officials - PWD Secretary Sarvagya Srivastava and Health Secretary Tarun Seem - as they are looking after government's ambitious projects including setting up of mohalla clinics and construction of new school buildings.
"After the LG's order, elected Chief Minister and ministers don't have power to appoint their peons and clerks. "There is no confusion after the High Court which states that services come under the LG. In today's meeting, I have requested not to remove PWD and Health Secretaries as both officers are engaged in projects like mohalla clinics and construction of new school buildings," Mr Sisodia told reporters.
In his order dated on August 9, Lieutenant Governor Jung said," All services matters, including transfers/postings of IAS/DANICS officers, with the recommendations of Civil Services Board in case of IAS officers, will be placed through Chief Secretary, Delhi directly before Lt Governor for his consideration and orders."
Mr Sisodia said that mohalla clinics and schools are the best initiatives that they have been undertaking and hence requested Lieutenant Governor to let them work.
"Even if we have to beg or request LG, we would do it but we would not let the work stop for the benefit of the national capital. Delhi government has initiated the process of appointing professionals as secretaries which motivated people in these departments," he also said.
"Chief Ministers has also directed all ministers to work even for 48 hours but people's works should not be affected. It doesn't matter if we have been deprived of all powers, we will still continue to work," Mr Sisodia further said.
Rejecting the deputy chief minister claim that ministers don't have power to appoint peons and clerks, the Lieutenant Governor office clarified that the Lieutenant Governor constituted 'Civil Services Board' on August 9 to look into transfers and postings of IAS and (Delhi, Andaman Nicobar Island Civil Services) officers.
"The order to constitute Civil Services Board to be headed by Chief Secretary was also endorsed by the Deputy CM in the August 9 meeting with LG. There is no mention in the order that ministers don't have power to appoint their peons and clerks," an official from the Lieutenant Governor office said.