In what is being seen as an attempt to mollify the bureaucrats trapped in its crossfire with the Lieutenant Governor, the Aam Aadmi Party government on Wednesday asked them to perform their duties in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the Transaction of Business Rules “without any fear or apprehension”.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia held a lengthy meeting with the top bureaucrats of the Delhi Government, including acting Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin, on Wednesday morning.
The high-powered interaction was perceived in the political circles as an attempt to win the confidence of the Union Territory cadre IAS officers amid reports that several of them wanted to leave Delhi in the wake of the stand-off.
Presiding over the nearly three-hour-long meeting, Mr. Sisodia explained to the officers the provisions in the Constitution, the Government of NCT of Delhi Act and Transaction of Business Rules and asked them not to blindly comply with L-G Najeeb Jung’s directives.
The bureaucrats attending the meeting also gave suggestions for resolving the impasse while making a reference to the rules and regulations in force. Mr. Sisodia affirmed that the AAP Government was committed to ensuring good governance in the Capital and said it would abide by the Constitutional provisions.
According to the sources, while the Principal Secretaries, Secretaries and heads of various departments and Transport Minister Gopal Rai attended the meeting, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal joined them later over lunch.
The high-powered interaction was perceived in the political circles as an attempt to win the confidence of the Union Territory cadre IAS officers
