Delhi Govt Suspends 2 Officers, 200 Plan Mass Leave In Protest

The Delhi government, led by Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party, is revving up for another clash with the Centre over the suspension of two officers of the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Services (DANICS) that the Home Ministry has declared null and void on Thursday.

At least 200 senior bureaucrats of the Delhi government went on a day’s protest leave here over the suspension of two officials.

Reacting to the MHA’s declaration, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said that it was a conspiracy and a planned strategy. The issues also risks escalating into another confrontation between the Centre and the Delhi government.

Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) cadres are selected through civil service exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

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“L-G has power to stay some orders, but a blanket order saying no order of Delhi government is to be seen through, won’t be followed”, he said.

The Delhi authorities had on Wednesday suspended particular secretary (Prosecution) Yashpal Garg and particular secretary (Prisons) Subhash Chandra after they allegedly refused to signal on a Cabinet determination file.

The DANICS officers hold crucial posts including that of sub-divisional magistrate, secretary to minister and special secretary.

“Why they have chose to go on mass leave just a day before start of the odd-even scheme. If some people go on leave, it will not make any difference”, Jain said.

The files that they refused to sign pertained to a cabinet decision to hike the Public Prosecutor’s salary.

However, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday termed the suspension as “illegal” and said it is “against service rules”.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on his part said the AAP Government was trying to cover up its failures through repeated conflicts with the Centre and various other agencies.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Kejriwal said, “DANICS and IAS associations in Delhi have become full-fledged B teams of BJP and Modi was shooting from the shoulder of LG and Bureaucrats”.