NEW DELHI: Within 24 hours of the Supreme Court judgement, the Delhi Chief Minister on Thursday cracked the whip on the Services Secretary after the Chief Secretary refused to follow the order of the Deputy Chief Minister on transfer and appointment of officials. "All officers should respect and obey SC order. Open defiance of SC order shall invite serious consequences. It will be in no one's interest," tweeted CM Arvind Kejriwal.
Manish Sisodia who holds the portfolio of the Services Department said, "I have directed again the Secretary Services to issue the orders as directed on Wednesday. Informed the officer that non-compliance would lead to contempt of SC and the officer shall face disciplinary proceedings." The refusal of bureaucrats to comply with the Delhi government's directives amounts to contempt of court and the leadership is seeking legal opinion on the matter, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.
Hours after the Supreme Court's landmark judgement on Wednesday, the Delhi government introduced a new system for transfer and postings of bureaucrats, making Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal the approving authority. However, the services department refused to comply, saying the Supreme Court did not abolish the notification issued in 2016 which made the Ministry of Home Affairs the authority for transfers and postings. The chief secretary has written to me saying the services department will not follow the orders. If they are not going to abide by it and the transfer files will still be seen by the LG, it will amount to contempt of the constitution bench," Sisodia said.
He also said," We are consulting our lawyers about what can be done in the situation," adding that the Supreme Court had clearly stated that the LG has the power to interfere only in three subjects, which does not include the services department."
Meanwhile, the opposition hit back at the AAP on the issue. The leader of Opposition in Delhi Vidhan Sabha, Vijender Gupta said that Delhi government which had welcomed the Judgment of Supreme Court is again on the path of confrontation with the Union Government and the LG within 24 hours of the judgment. Kejriwal Govt has again started threatening and intimidating the officers. Gupta added that the Delhi government should have faith in the constitutional provisions and work in harmony with LG in the interest of the people of Delhi.