The Principal Secretary of the Public Works Department, Ashwani Kumar, who has been at loggerheads with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on several issues over the past few months, has been transferred out of the Capital and appointed as Chief Secretary of Puducherry.
As part of a bureaucratic reshuffle, Puducherry’s Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Parida and another senior officer, G. Narendra Kumar, have been transferred to Delhi. Both are yet to be given any charge.
Mr. Parida, a 1986-batch IAS officer, and Mr. Kumar have worked in the Delhi government when Sheila Dikshit was Chief Minister.
As per an order of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Delhi Services Secretary A. Anbarasu was also transferred and posted in the Puducherry government.
Opposing ends
Mr. Kumar, a 1992-batch IAS officer, and the AAP government have been on opposing ends on a range of issues. In June, CM Arvind Kejriwal had written to Chief Secretary M. M. Kutty, asking him to initiate proceedings of “dereliction of duty” against Mr. Kumar over desilting of drains. Mr. Kumar had hit back and said “negativity and squabbling attitude” did not work in such a challenging task.
A Delhi Assembly panel had also initiated “breach of privilege proceedings” against him, but he later got a stay from the Delhi High Court.
Most recently, the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi, an advisory body constituted by the Delhi government, had indicted Mr. Kumar for “very serious” lapses for delay in construction of phase III of Barapullah flyover.
Mr. Kumar also held the charge of vigilance secretary in the Delhi government.
