Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has directed government officials to bring important service matters to his notice in a standing order stating that he holds the power to create posts in government departments as well as in PSUs and boards.
In February this year, the Supreme Court had given a split verdict on the contentious issue of who should control administrative services in Delhi – viz. the elected government and the office of the Lieutenant Governor – referring the matter to a larger Bench of the apex court for consideration.
In the said order, issued last month, Mr. Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said proposals involving major deviations from rules and precedents will be disposed of at the level of the Finance Minister.
It stated that proposals for allotment of land free of cost or at concessional rates will be examined by the department’s Deputy Secretary or Special Secretary or top officers, but will be disposed of by the Finance Minister.
Routing of files to L-G
On appeals to the L-G under the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, Mr. Sisodia, in the order, said such matter will be examined by a Joint Secretary or Special Secretary, but the Principal Secretary will submit it to the L-G and the Finance Minister. Files pertaining to this matter to the L-G will be routed through the Finance Minister, Mr. Sisodia said.
“All important matters requiring policy decision may be brought to the notice of Deputy CM/FM. Where a proposal has the support of the Minister of an administrative department and it is not considered proper to accord concurrence to the proposal, the case should be submitted through Principal Secretary to the Finance Minister,” he directed in the order.
According to the Deputy Chief Minister, pending the decision of the Supreme Court in this regard, service matters in the domain of the services department will be disposed of as per interim orders of the apex court but they will be brought to the notice of Finance Minister as specified in the schedule.
