Delhi chief secretary row: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia Delhi chief secretary row: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia

Amid the escalating row over the removal of principal secretary Anindo Majumdar by Delhi government for issuing the order to appoint Shakuntala Gamlin as acting chief secretary, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday issued directions to the chief secretary and department secretaries to route every order from the Lt-Governor’s office through him.

READ: Explained Kejriwal v LG: Much lies between the lines of Statute, Act and Rules

The latest order says the responsibility lies with the chief secretary and department secretaries if any order, whether verbal or written, goes directly from the L-G’s office.

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has also written to all the heads of department to attend a conference on “correct” and “coherent” understanding of the Constitution of India on Wednesday in Delhi secretariat.

The officials have been asked to read three statutes namely transaction of business rules, NCT of Delhi Act, 1991, and Constitution of India “carefully” to “ensure meaningful discussion”.

The Kejriwal order says all oral and written orders received from L-G or his office to the chief secretary or any administrative secretary will first be submitted by the official concerned to the minister in charge and chief minister for a decision. “No action will be taken by the administrative secretary or chief secretary on such order till written directions are received from the chief minister or the minister in charge on the same,” reads the order.

Meanwhile, the reinstatement of Majumdar ordered by the L-G is yet to be carried out by the government. Rajendra Kumar, appointed by the government in place of Majumdar as secretary to the CM, has been signing documents as principal secretary, services.

It is also learnt that on Tuesday, Majumdar was asked to take charge of his post in services by the L-G office. Majumdar’s office remained locked on Tuesday as well.

War of words

“The people of Delhi experimented with a new party in the elections, but it is a very costly experiment because governance is not their political agenda. From whatever is happening in Delhi in the last few months, it seems coming days may be painful.” — Arun jaitley

“The country is suffering from the experiment done by Narendra Modi, making him (Jaitley) the Finance Minister, who lost so badly in Amrtisar. BJP doesn’t get how Delhi has changed – 67 seats were given (to AAP). His comment (above) insults that mandate.” — Ashutosh

“The Delhi government is elected by the people to whom it is accountable. What kind of government will it be if it does not even have a say in the selection of a chief secretary of the state? …How can it discharge its responsibility?” –Nitish Kumar

“I know a few who have applied for transfer or Central deputation. The morale is down and nobody wants to work with this (AAP) government. They have in vain defamed an intelligent and hardworking official like (Shakuntala) Gamlin.” –A senior Delhi govt official

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