Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday assured the Delhi Administration Subordinate Services (DASS) cadre that he would meet their demand for cadre restructuring when the subject of services was returned to the elected government.
While the relationship between the Aam Aadmi Party government and senior bureaucrats remains tense, the Chief Minister reached out to the DASS cadre, meeting a delegation of officials at his residence on Thursday.
Addressing the long-pending demand of cadre restructuring, Mr. Kejriwal told the officials that his government had “special sympathy” towards the DASS officials.
“You are a part of our family... Because of political reasons, the powers of the elected government were snatched, which is why we have not been able to do what we wanted. We have a special sympathy towards DASS,” he said.
He added that when the elected government controlled services, the Cabinet had approved a proposal for the promotion of DASS officials. But, he further said, a High Court ruling that the Lieutenant-Governor controlled services had changed the situation.
‘Power to decide’
“Now, the Supreme Court has made it clear that apart from three issues, the elected government has the power to decide. For the time being, they [the Centre] are not accepting it...As soon as we get services, I assure you that your demands will be met,” he said. The DASS officials would greet the government with laddoos once services “is returned” to the elected government, he added.
Last week, the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had ruled that the aid and advice of the council of ministers was binding on all matters except for three reserved subjects, land, police and public order.
The issue of services was also resolved, the AAP argued. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the L-G have said that the services matter has not been resolved yet, as the MHA notification from 2015 giving the L-G the right to appoint and transfer officers still stands. The matter will now be heard by a Division Bench of the apex court.
There are about 12,000 sanctioned posts under the DASS cadre, which, the officials stated that it has not had a restructuring since its inception in 1967.
