Bureaucrats caught in AAP, L-G crossfire

IN A FIX Govt officials allege an environment of fear, say they are always under scrutiny in power struggle between AAP govt and Centre

NEW DELHI:

Inside a courtroom last month, the Delhi government’s top bureaucrat’s counsel quoted him about how a tussle between the chief minister and the lieutenant governor had left him in a difficult situation. While the high court in this case was hearing Kutty’s plea against a notice by the Assembly’s question and reference committee, his statement resonated with the bureaucracy that’s working for the AAP government in Delhi.

In a span of over two-and-ahalf years, these government officials have faced suspensions, salary cuts, raids, CBI probes and FIRS – making them the worst victims of the tussle between two power centres.

Bureaucrats HT spoke to, said the problem was a lack of clarity as to whose direction needs to be followed. “More than the government or the L-G, it is the bureaucrats, who are looking up to the case in the SC. If we toe the line suggested by the minster, then the L-G objects. If we listen to the L-G, the ministers call us agents of the Centre,” said an official.

ENVIRONMENT OF SUSPICION

The environment of suspicion at work is such that some officials sought transfers, a few others went on long leaves and the rest continued to work, but “without getting noticed”.

“FIRS have been lodged against 30 officials, over and above the other probes i n progress. In such a situation, it’s better to keep a low key. That is also one of the reasons why not even 50% of the government’s planned budget has been used till now,” another bureaucrat said.

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sabhas guest teachers policy ment officials went on leave en mass to protest the suspension of two DANICS officials. The suspensions were later declared ‘non est and null’ by the Centre.

MORE SCRUTINY

A former Delhi government bureaucrat, who now is on Central deputation, said the problem of Delhi is also structural.

“Delhi’s bureaucrats are most exposed to probes and actions compared to any other Union Territory or state,” he claimed.

“There is the Central Vigilance

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Commission, the CBI, ACB, Economic Offence Wing and the CAG here. The CBI cannot interfere in cases related to other Union Territories like Goa, Arunachal Pradesh or Mizoram,” another bureaucrat said. “Now with this conflict, the officials are most vulnerable,” he added.

An AAP spokesperson maintained that the actions were aimed at “fixing accountability”.

Officials in the L-G house said that all decisions by him were taken i n accordance to rules and laws.