Amid the turf war between the Aam Aadmi Party and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, the Delhi government has issued a fresh order to top bureaucrats warning of disciplinary actions against them if they violate the standing order issued by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last month.
Kejriwal had in June directed the top bureaucrats to first bring all the files to him and the Cabinet before taking any decisions. Following this, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia issued an order to Delhi Chief Secretary KK Sharma last week warning that those violating the rules and the CM's order will have to go through disciplinary proceedings.
"He has also been warned not to violate the transaction of business rules and standing orders which have been issued by the CM and ministers," Hindustan Times quoted a source as saying.
While there has been no official comment from Sharma on the Delhi government's orders, HT sources have revealed that the Delhi government doesn't hold powers to initiate such proceedings as Chief Secretary functions under the Home Ministry.
"If the competent authorities issue certain directions, the Chief Secretary will have to follow them. He's only discharging his duties," a senior Delhi government official said.
The warning is believed to have come after Sharma ignored Delhi government's appointee for home secretary, Rajendra Kumar, and instead reinstated Dharam Pal, appointed by Union Home Ministry, as home secretary in June this year.
Sharma, a 1983-batch IAS officer, was appointed as Delhi Chief secretary after the Union Home Ministry turned down AAP government's proposal to appoint Ramesh Negi for the post.
