Delhi officers meet CM to discuss transfers

Nearly 50 government officers belonging to Delhi, Andaman Nicobar Island Civil Services (DANICS) met Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday regarding the recent transfer of 25 city administration officials by the Home Ministry.

Interestingly, 309 is the sanctioned posts of government officials in Delhi, out of which 163 officers are posted with 47 per cent deficit. With 25 more officers in the pipeline to get transferred out of the city, deficit percentage will increase as meagre five officials currently serving in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicober Island have been posted to Delhi government.

Andaman and Nicober Islands has 24 sanctioned posts but 35 officers are already posted here, thus exceeding by 46 per cent.

While, Daman and Diu have 16 sanctioned posts, 20 government officers are already serving, exceeding by 25 per cent and Lakshadweep which has 14 posts has 17 officers, exceeding by with 21 per cent.

The officers raised the issue of frequent transfers as some of them have already served in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and other Union Territories.

Sources said that CM assured them that she would try to hold back some of her key officials.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary of Delhi, P K Tripathi, also met the Home Secretary on Thursday regarding some difference of opinions about one or two officers.

Official sources from Home Ministry said those who were transferred so far from their respective postings have only completed little over four years. But, according to the sources, there were still some officers serving either in Delhi or Goa for almost seven to 10 years who were required to be transferred.

Sources said Home Ministry has indicated to the Delhi government that it has started the process of transferring a number of top officials from Delhi government, including Chief Minister's Principal Secretary M M Kutty, Industries secretary Chetan Sanghi, Delhi Jal Board CEO Debashree Mukherjee, Commissioner of South Delhi Municipal Corporation Manish Gupta, Food and Civil Supplies Secretary Dharampal and Labour Secretary Ramesh Tiwari.

However, a close aide to CM, reveals that Kutty, Sanghi and Mukherjee are likely to be retained by the Delhi government.