Page 56 - Aap Government

L-G writes to Delhi CM Kejriwal, alleges disregard of rules by AAP govt

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday alleging "unconstitutional brazenness, intimidation and disregard of rules and procedures" by the AAP government following the Supreme Court verdict on services matters. In the letter, the lieutenant governor said that in the past one week, a "gloomy face of governance" emerged in Delhi where "organised, structured and specialised administrative machinery" is yet again facing the "brunt" of "highhandedness" of the political executive. "I write to you to bring to your notice the unconstitutional brazenness, intimidation and disregard of rules and procedures being indulged into by your government and its ministers, especially...(Services) Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, ever since the Constitution Bench judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 11.05.2023," Saxena's letter read. Alleging a "chaotic style of governance", Saxena claimed that decisions were being conveyed to him through Twitter and the .

Ensure parity in learning outcomes, customised for each child: Atishi

Teachers must ensure parity in learning levels of students and opportunities beyond schools to fulfil the vision of 'Mission Buniyaad', Delhi Education Minister Atishi said on Thursday as she stressed the need for providing each child with customised learning. Interacting with students and teachers at a 'Mission Buniyaad' class at an MCD School in New Friends Colony, the Delhi minister gave instructions for monitoring the learning progress of each child. To fulfil the vision of Mission Buniyaad teachers must motivate every child in their class to learn, Atishi said. She said 'Mission Buniyaad' was initiated to bridge the learning gap among children. "The process of transformation has begun in the MCD schools now. Following this, MCD schools are now focusing on creating a conducive learning environment for every child studying in them," she said. The Education Minister said the BJP had "neglected" MCD schools and "disregarded the efforts" of teachers in the past 15 years. Highlighti

No orders for staff to be passed by CS without his nod: Delhi minister

Delhi Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday directed that no orders pertaining to employees will be passed by the chief secretary or the services department without his approval, amid a growing discord between bureaucrats and the city government. The order comes close on the heels of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government seeking the Centre's approval to appoint 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service officer PK Gupta as the new chief secretary of Delhi. Gupta is currently serving as additional chief secretary in the general administration department (GAD) of the Delhi government. The present chief secretary, Naresh Kumar, is due to retire later this year, officials said. "In supercession of all earlier orders, it is hereby directed that no orders for any category of employees shall be passed by the chief secretary or secretary (services) or services department without the approval of the undersigned," Bharadwaj said in an order signed by him. This order is the latest in a

AAP government gave jobs to 29,237 youths in one year: Punjab CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said the AAP government has given jobs to 29,237 youths so far in the state. He said the jobs were given purely on the basis of merit. The chief minister was addressing a gathering here after handing over appointment letters to 144 civilian support staff in various cadres of the Bureau of Investigation in Punjab Police. Mann said to overcome major challenges faced by society today, it is imperative that the police force is updated as per requirements in the field of investigation, science and technology. He said it is a matter of pride and satisfaction that Punjab Police is considered as the best force in the country. Mann said the state police has already undertaken several operations in the last one year, which are being hailed across the country. "Punjab will be soon joining hands with Google to update the state police on scientific lines," a statement quoted him as saying. Mann said a comprehensive blueprint has been already pr

Centre's approval sought to appoint PK Gupta as Delhi's new chief secretary

The AAP government has sought the Centre's approval to appoint 1989 batch IAS officer PK Gupta as the new chief secretary of Delhi, officials said on Thursday. Gupta is currently serving as additional chief secretary at the General Administration Department (GAD) of the Delhi government. The present Chief Secretary of Delhi Naresh Kumar is due to retire later this year, they said. The proposal regarding appointment of Gupta was sent from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to LG VK Saxena for concurrence of the Centre. The move comes days after the Delhi government was given executive power in services matters, including transfer and posting of officers, in an important verdict by the Supreme Court.

Not subject to advice of Delhi govt: LG to SC on power to nominate aldermen

The LG's office said that the discretionary power of "administrator" under the DMC Act is recognised independent of any interference by the other four sources of authority

Services row: CSB meeting delayed due to chief secy's busy schedule

A meeting of the Civil Services Board (CSB) convened by Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar on Tuesday to consider the AAP government's directions to transfer officers, including Services Department Secretary Ashish More, was delayed due to his busy schedule, official sources said. The meeting could not take place on time as the chief secretary remained busy throughout the day, they said. Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj as well as two members of the CSB were waiting for Kumar till 8:30 pm, the government sources said. "The chief secretary was reaching for the meeting and it was expected to begin shortly," a source said. More was removed by the Delhi government from his post on May 11, hours after the Supreme Court order placed the control of bureaucrats working with the Delhi government (excluding those related to police, public order, and land) under the elected government. Earlier, transfers and postings of all Delhi government officers were decided by the Lieutenant Governor

Put on hold actions on L-G's directions: Delhi govt asks its departments

Days after a Supreme Court's order giving it control over services, the Delhi government has asked its various departments to hold back action on directions of Lt Governor V K Saxena issued directly to them in recent months. After the apex court's judgement, directions were issued on May 12 by ministers-in-charge to departments concerned asking them to strictly follow transaction of business rules (TBR) and desist from putting up files before them through the chief secretary. Now, according to a circular issued on Monday by the Delhi government, the various departments have been asked to put on hold implementation of all the directions issued by the LG directly to them in the last few months. Lt Governor Saxena has issued several directions directly to various departments through the chief secretary, "completely bypassing" the elected government, the circular said. The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in its 2018 order and recent order on May 11 has clearly stated that the L

Delhi chief secretary convenes meeting of Civil Services Board today

Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar has convened a meeting of the Civil Services Board (CSB) on May 16 to consider the AAP government's directions to transfer officers, including Services Secretary Ashish More, officials said on Monday. It will be the first meeting of the CSB after a Supreme Court judgment placed the control of bureaucrats working with the Delhi government (excluding those related to police, public order, and land) under the elected government. Earlier, transfers and postings of all Delhi government officers were decided by the Lieutenant Governor. More was removed by the Delhi government from his post on May 11, hours after the Supreme Court order. In an order, Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said the two other members of the CSB, being junior to the chief secretary, who chairs the board's meeting, may be unable to "fearlessly" express their views and directed that a draft of the meeting be prepared in advance. "CSB consists of two secretaries and is chaired by

Delhi govt issues showcause to services secretary for disregarding order

The Delhi government has issued a showcause notice to IAS officer and services department secretary Ashish More and threatened disciplinary action against him for not complying with his transfer order and allegedly going incommunicado. More was removed by the Delhi government from his post last Thursday in an order issued hours after the Supreme Court gave the AAP dispensation control over the transfer and posting of officers in the state. No reply has been received from More on the showcause notice issued to him by Services Department Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on May 13, said a Delhi government official. More was unavailable for comments. In a memo to More, Bhardwaj had sought his response within 24 hours over charges that he refused to comply with the transfer order. The services minister also cited that various attempts to communicate with the officer through phone calls as well as WhatsApp messages did not bore any results and he that was "absconding" as he has not informed ab

AAP scores in Jalandhar, runs out of luck in Karnataka Assembly elections

The seat was won by the BJP's candidate, Uday B. Garudachar, who secured 57,299 votes defeating his Congress opponent R.V. Devraj by 12,113 votes

Jalandhar LS bypoll: AAP's Rinku ahead of Congress candidate by 4,503 votes

AAP candidate Sushil Rinku is leading in the Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll, counting of votes for which is underway, trends showed. Rinku is ahead of his nearest rival and Congress candidate Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary by 4,503 votes, according to the trends on the Election Commission website. The seat had fallen vacant following the death Karamjit Kaur's husband and Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary in January. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate has so far polled 49,807 votes while Chaudhary has got 45,304. BJP candidate Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal was at the third spot while Shiromani Akali Dal's Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, who is being backed by the BSP, was at the fourth spot, according to the trends. Atwal has, so far, got 29,244 votes while Sukhi has polled 22,352 votes, it showed. The bypoll was held on May 10 and counting began at 8 am. Nineteen candidates contested the bypoll, which recorded a voter turnout of 54.70 per cent. The turnout was well below the 63.04 per cent recorded i

Delhi govt moves SC saying Centre not initiating transfer of services secy

The Kejriwal government removed the Secretary of the Delhi government's Services department on Thursday evening

AAP govt, LG office should work with coordination to serve people: Official

With the Supreme Court clarifying the Constitutional position on the control over services matter in Delhi, the elected AAP government and the office of Lt Governor should now work with "dignity and coordination" to serve the people of Delhi, several former and serving bureaucrats said on Thursday. According to former Delhi government chief secretary Ramesh Negi the administrative setup in the city comprises "two wills" -- one is the will of the President expressed through the Lt Governor, and the second is the will of the people represented by the elected government. "We expect that after the constitutional position on the services matter has been cleared by the Supreme Court, one should not go for positioning this way or that in the interest of the people of the Delhi. There should be synergy between the two sides for greater good of Delhi and its people," he said. The former Delhi Chief secretary said "dignity and coordination" between the elected government and the office of LG

Speed of work in Delhi will increase manifold: Kejriwal after SC verdict

The AAP government swung into action on Thursday after a Supreme Court verdict on the Centre-Delhi services matter with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announcing a major bureaucratic reshuffle in the coming days and warning action against officers who "create hurdles" in public work. In a unanimous verdict, a five-judge constitution bench ruled that the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over services except for public order, police and land. Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said the speed of work in the national capital will increase manifold following the judgement on administration of services as his hands were earlier tied. He also thanked the judges for doing justice with Delhi. Following the verdict, the chief minister met Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena and sought his "blessings" as well as held a meeting with his ministers at the Delhi Secretariat. His meeting with Saxena, with whom the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had a running battle

Court said no evidence to prove claims: AAP on Delhi excise policy case

Demanding an apology from the BJP for allegedly "defaming" former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia over the excise policy case, Atishi, claimed that the court has stated in its order that there is no evidence

Entire AAP govt in Delhi filled with scams: Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi

Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi on Sunday said that the entire Aam Admi Party (AAP) in Delhi is filled with scams and the leaders in their party have corrupt minds

Punjab scaling new heights of development under AAP govt: Kejriwal

Punjab was scaling new "heights of development" under the Bhagwant Mann government, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday as he sought votes for his party's candidate for the May 10 Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll. Addressing a roadshow along with Chief Minister Mann on the second day of his visit to Punjab, Kejriwal also referred to the 300 units of free electricity being provided to people in the state. The Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll was necessitated by the death of sitting Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary in January. AAP has fielded former MLA Sushil Rinku for the contest. Campaigning in Shahkot, Kejriwal told people that they have voted for the Congress for 60 years and asked them to give AAP a chance now, saying if they do not like his party's work, then "do not vote for us in the 2024 general elections". Praising the AAP dispensation for the work done in Punjab in the last year, Kejriwal claimed several people have told him that they have not seen such a governme

Court order in Delhi excise policy matter shows this case is bogus: AAP

The AAP on Sunday demanded that the BJP tender an apology to it for levelling false allegations against the party in connection with the excise policy case following a court granting bail to two accused in the matter. Addressing a press conference, AAP senior leader and Cabinet minister Atishi said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has levelled two allegations that Rs 100 crore kickbacks were received from liquor businessesmen and the money was used in Goa elections. "Yesterday, the Rouse Avenue court granted bail to Rajesh Joshi and Gautam Malhotra. The court order said no evidence had been kept forth by the ED showing any cash payment for bribe or kickbacks. The order said the ED attached some vague statements by witnesses," she added. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asserted that the entire case is "bogus" and only meant to malign his party. "Now even Court has said that there is no material evidence of any kickback or money laundering. We have been saying right from beginni

CM Kejriwal being spied upon by Delhi police, alleges Saurabh Bhardwaj

The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday alleged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was being spied on by the Delhi Police with its Special Cell officials in plainclothes "roaming around" his residence the whole day. AAP chief spokesperson and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj told a press conference here the party's Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh have written to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora in connection with the matter. The Delhi Police refused to comment on the matter. Addressing the media, Bharadwaj said, "In the last two days, our MPs have written letters on a very serious issue." He then read out from the similar letters written by the MPs. "I would like to draw your attention to a serious issue. Delhi's people have made Kejriwal CM thrice. There have been security lapses and he has been attacked. Police are supposed to protect the citizens. But it's sad that they are not able to keep even the chief minister safe. Few days back, a drone was spotted near his resid