MM Kutty takes charge as Delhi Chief Secretary

Senior IAS officer M M Kutty on Thursday took charge as the Delhi Chief Secretary, replacing Kewal Kumar Sharma who was transferred as OSD in the Union HRD Ministry earlier this week.

Kutty, a 1985 batch IAS officer, had been the Principal Secretary to former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. 

He has also worked with the AAP government as the Finance Secretary.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had appointed him as the Chief Secretary of Delhi on Tuesday. He came to Delhi Secretariat on Thursday to take charge of his new office. Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday had ordered the posting of Kutty, relieving incumbent K K Sharma, as the Chief Secretary.

“In pursuance of Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs’ order... dated November 29, the Lt Governor is pleased to order posting of Dr M M Kutty, IAS (AGMUT:1985) as Chief Secretary, government of NCT of Delhi with effect from 1.12.2016,” said an order issued by the Delhi Services Department.

The Kejriwal government has not reacted to the appointment of Kutty so far.

An official said the government has no say in the transfer and posting of IAS and DANICS officers since the high court order on August 4 which stamped the primacy of the Lt Governor in the administration of the national Capital. 

“As the Delhi government has challenged the High Court order and the matter is being heard by the 

Supreme Court, the city administration will not react to the appointment of Kutty as Delhi Chief Secretary,” the official said.