In yet another act of strong defiance, the Aam Aadmi Party Government on Tuesday appointed senior bureaucrat Arvind Ray as Principal Secretary (General Administration) bypassing Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.
Significantly, the order to appoint Mr. Ray was issued by Rajendra Kumar in his capacity as Principal Secretary (Services) though his appointment to the post by AAP government was declared “void” by Jung on Monday.
The charge of general administration department as well as services department was given to Mr. Kumar after Aninda Majumdar was divested of both the responsibilities by the AAP government.
Mr. Majumdar was removed on Saturday after he issued an order notifying the appointment of Shakuntala Gamlin as acting chief secretary on Friday. The L-G, on the same evening, had declared the order to transfer Mr. Majumdar “void”.
On Monday, Mr. Majumdar had found his office in Delhi Secretariat locked. Later the AAP government had appointed Mr. Kumar as Principal Secretary of services and general administration departments.
In its Tuesday’s order, the AAP government said Mr. Ray has been appointed as Principal Secretary in place of Rajendra Kumar.
Earlier this year, AAP government had removed Mr. Ray as Principal Secretary of the Home Department and had not assigned him any work since then.
Lt Governormeets President over Gamlin issue
Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on Tuesday met President Pranab Mukherjee and is understood to have apprised him of the stand-off over appointment of acting chief secretary Shakuntala Gamlin and other bureaucrats.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too is scheduled to meet Mukherjee on Tuesday.
Sources said the L-G briefed the President about issues relating to posting and transfer of officials in Delhi Government.
They said Mr. Jung was also taking legal opinion about issues relating to authority over bureaucrats in Delhi Government.
The tussle over appointment of Ms. Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary of Delhi >had turned into a full-blown war between the AAP government and Mr. Jung with Kejriwal alleging that the L-G was trying to take over the administration.
Despite Mr. Kejriwal’s strong opposition, Mr. Jung had appointed her to the post on Friday.
A number of senior bureaucrats were caught in the crossfire between Mr. Jung and Mr. Kejriwal. The AAP government on Monday directed all its officials to apprise the Chief Minister or Minister concerned about any oral or written direction from the LG or his office before following them.
The L-G has also hardened his stand maintaining that he was the main authority in dealing with transfers and postings of senior bureaucrats.
