Centre Brings Ordinance To Set Up Panel On Delhi Services Days After SC order

Amid row over the transfer of Delhi govt official Ashish More, the Centre on Friday night issued an ordinance to negate Supreme Court ruling that placed 'services' under the control of the State Govt in the national capital.

The Union Government has established a National Capital Services Authority through an ordinance to make recommendations to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor regarding matters concerning transfer, posting, vigilance and other incidental matters.

The ordinance states that "there shall be an authority to be known as the National Capital Civil Service Authority to exercise the powers conferred on, and discharge the functions assigned to it".

The authority shall comprise the chief minister of the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi as its chairperson, along with the chief secretary and the principal home secretary, who shall be the member secretary to the authority.

"All matters required to be decided by the authority shall be decided by majority of votes of the members present and voting. All recommendations of the authority shall be authenticated by the member secretary," it said.

The ordinance comes a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in the national capital to the Delhi government.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal questioned whether the government was conspiring to reverse through an ordinance the Supreme Court verdict giving the elected government executive powers in services matters, news agency PTI reported.

The Delhi government was given executive power in services matters, including transfer and posting of officers, in an important verdict by the Supreme Court last week.

A Supreme Court order on May 11 put the control of bureaucrats working with the Delhi government, excluding those related to police, public order and land, under the elected government.

Delhi Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj also asked whether the lieutenant governor and the Centre were ''conspiring'' to reverse the verdict by bringing in an ordinance.

Earlier in the day, Bharadwaj requested the lieutenant governor (LG) to clear the file related to the transfer of Services Secretary More, saying several administrative changes were held up due to the delay. In a letter to the LG, Bharadwaj said the Delhi government had sent the file two days ago.

More was transferred hours after a Supreme Court order on May 11 put the control of bureaucrats working with the Delhi government -- excluding those related to police, public order and land -- under the elected government.