Dikshit takes up transfer issue with Home Minister

Dikshit has been insisting that Home Ministry should hold discussion with the city government before effecting transfer of senior officials of her administration.

The Home Ministry in May had transferred 25 senior officials of Delhi Government but Dikshit had asked Chief Secretary P K Tripathi not to release them protesting the "unilateral decision".

"The issue of transfer of officials figured in the meeting," said sources.

She had taken up the issue with then Home Minister P Chidambaram but notwithstanding the Delhi Government's opposition to the transfer, the Ministry in June had issued showcause notices to the DANICS (Delhi, Andaman Nicobar Island Civil Services) officials asking to explain why they did not comply with its orders.

Though some officials joined new postings out of Delhi, most of the 25 officials were not relieved by the city government.

Dikshit had taken a strong position on the issue saying there is a severe shortage of officials in Delhi government against the sanctioned strength and transfer of the huge number of officials will seriously affect governance.

Subsequently, Chief Secretary P K Tripathi held a number of meetings with Home Ministry officials but nothing concrete had come out.

Dikshit had taken up the issue of transfer of officials of her administration with Chidambaram in February last year also when Home Ministry had transfered several top IAS officials of her government. Following Dikshit's intervention, transfer of a number of officials was delayed by the Ministry.

The sources said Dikshit also apprised Shinde about her government's decision to regularise 917 unauthorised colonies in the city.