Delhi Home Secy row: Kejriwal hardens its position, writes to MHA asking it not to interfere

New Delhi, Jun 11: Hardening his position on transfer of Delhi's Home Secretary, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today conveyed to Union Home Ministry that giving additional charge to top bureaucrats was within the rights of his government and that it should not interfere in such matters.

Senior IAS official Dharam Pal was removed as Home Secretary on Tuesday and repatriated to the Centre by AAP government.

Principal Secretary of Services Department Rajendra Kumar was given the additional charge of the top post. However, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung had rejected Pal's transfer and asked him to continue while Kejriwal had asked Kumar to discharge his duties as Home Secretary.

In something unprecedented, both Kumar and Pal have been working separately as Home Secretaries since yesterday. In a letter to Home Ministry this morning, Kejriwal said as per provisions of the Constitution and GNCT Act, the city government was well within its right to give "additional or temporary charge" to senior officials.

He also maintained that city government, as per laid down provisions, has a say in transfer and postings. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has revoked Delhi Government's order to repatriate Pal to the Centre terming it "ab initio void" and asserted that powers to transfer AGMUT cadre officers rests only with the Centre.

Pal was also Principal Secretary (Land and Buildings) and Delhi government had appointed 1992-batch IAS officer Ashwani Kumar to the post. Delhi Chief Secretary KK Sharma today conveyed to Kumar about the Home Ministry's directive.

"The orders number 296 and 297 stand rescinded in compliance with the orders of Central Government," the Chief Secretary KK Sharma said in his order today.

In its order, the Union Home Ministry said that it is the cadre controlling authority for AGMUT cadre, which is a joint cadre. Pal was removed by the AAP government after he signed a notification appointing Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police MK Meena as new chief of Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) following Lt Governor Najeeb Jung's order.

Jung on Monday had appointed Meena superseding Kejriwal's hand-picked chief SS Yadav. The AAP government had reacted sharply to the decision.

In a letter yesterday, Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Jain had said no files pertaining to the department should go to Dharam Pal failing which strict action will be taken by the government.

"Vide order no. 297 dated 9.6.15 Dharam Pal, IAS, has been repatriated and Rajender Kumar, secretary has been assigned the additional charge of secretary (home).

"According to the rules, being the home minister it is within my power to decide as to how the department is to be run and accordingly it is directed that all files shall be submitted by the concerned additional secretary/special secretary to Rajender Kumar who is presently holding the charge of secretary (home)," Jain had said in his letter to Home Department.

PTI