Gloves are off as secretariat turns war zone
GOVT VERSUS BABUS Bureaucrats say they are victims of the power tussle between the elected government and the LG; govt and AAP spokespersons cite accountability
NEW DELHI: The simmering tensions between the legislature and the bureaucracy in Delhi erupted into a full blown conflict on Tuesday after chief secretary Anshu Prakash alleged he was assaulted by AAP MLAS in a midnight meeting at the CM’S house and the party MLAS accusing senior officials of casteist remarks.
The bureaucracy which has been measured in its response to the conflict with the government has now launched a public criticism. Delhi’s IAS, DANICS and Subordinate Services Associations said that it was the “culmination of a series of incidents of officers being subjected to verbal abuse and intimidation by political authorities from time to time”.
Officials said they have faced suspensions, salary cuts, raids, CBI probes and even FIRS – making them the worst victims of the ongoing tussle between the two power centres -- the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor’s office.
“In the past, we have repeatedly urged the political leaders to allow the officials to discharge their official duties professionally. Such incidents impair the effective functioning of the bureaucracy in a free and impartial manner,” the Delhi IAS Association, which has all top Delhi government bureaucrats as members, stated.
Bureaucrats Hindustan Times spoke to, including former Delhi government officials, said the problem was a lack of clarity on the power structure. “More than the government or the L-G, it is us, the bureaucrats, who are looking up to the case in the Supreme Court. Currently, if we tow the line of action suggested by the minister, then the L-G objects. If we listen to the L-G, the ministers call us agents of the Centre,” said a government official, on the condition of anonymity.
Former chief secretary MM Kutty, himself a victim of this power tussle, was quoted by his counsel as saying in a court in October last year: “I am played as a football. I am damned if I do, damned if I don’t. We are caught between the devil and the deep sea.”
The Aam Aadmi Party and government spokespersons have, however, maintained that the actions were aimed at “fixing accountability” of officials. On the other hand, officials in the L-G House said that as the head of the administration, all decisions by him are taken in accordance with the rules and laws.
SUSPICION ALL AROUND
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 being noticed”.
“FIRS have been l odged against 30 officials and this is above other probes in progress. In such a situation, it’s better to keep a low key. That is also one of the reasons why even half of the government’s planned budget has not been used till now,” another bureaucrat said.
The first public and biggest showdown between the bureaucrats and AAP government took place on December 31, 2015 when over 200 government officials went on en mass leave as two DANICS officials were suspended by health minister Satyendar Jain. Their suspension orders 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 in Delhi is also structural.
Emphasising the need to build “trust” and “protection” for bureaucrats, the officer said, “Delhi’s bureaucrats are most exposed to probes and actions compared to any other Union Territory or state,” he claimed. Was criticised for allegedly not overseeing desilting of drains ahead of monsoon. Assembly panels and the dialogue commission released a report on these allegations Had differences with the government over a case related to irregularities in the tenders for 14 STPS along the Yamuna Chandra was suspended when he was secretary (prisons) for refusing to sign a file pertaining to the cabinet decision to increase salary of public prosecutors He had alleged he was “under pressure” from various “stakeholders” to name some individuals, including a “certain VIP”, in his report on DDCA (power)
The Arvind Kejriwal government had opposed her appointment as the acting Delhi chief secretary