Delhi Assembly passes resolution seeking restructuring of DASS cadre

The Delhi Assembly today passed a government resolution seeking restructuring of Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services (DASS) and Steno cadres within one month, days after some officers met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, fuelling rumours of a rift between the bureaucrats and lower-rank officers on the chief secretary assault row.

The resolution, moved by Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam who was recently appointed "peacemaker" to find a solution to the chief secretary assault row, also urged Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to consider the proposal on priority.

The resolution was passed in the House with voice vote.

While tabling the resolution, Gautam said officers of Delhi Administration Subordinate Service (DASS) have been facing "acute stagnation" at all levels due to long pending restructuring despite the fact that the Delhi Cabinet had approved a proposal for the same on December 31, 2015.

"The House resolves that pursuant to Cabinet decision, DASS cadre be restructured and parity between DASS and CSS be established immediately without any delay...

"All procedural formalities for amending the DASS Rules, 1967 and restructuring of DASS and steno cadres be completed by the services department within a month," the resolution stated.

Earlier this month, a section of DASS officers met Kejriwal at his residence, leading to an apparent rift between the bureaucracy and lower-rank officers over the alleged attack on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by some legislators at the CM's residence at midnight of February 19.

Since the alleged attack, both IAS and Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) officers have been boycotting all meetings, excepting those pertaining to the Assembly, in solidarity with the top bureaucrat.

Since the Aam Aadmi Party has formed government in Delhi, both the Delhi government and bureaucracy have been at loggerheads on a range of issues.