Page 61 - Delhi Government

Delhi L-G approves proposal to assign charge of Services dept to A K Singh

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Friday approved the AAP government's proposal to assign the additional charge of the Services department to IAS officer A K Singh, hours after a meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP dispensation and the LG had locked horns over the transfer of Services Secretary Ashish More following the May 11 Supreme Court verdict giving the city government executive control over transfer and posting of bureaucrats. "LG has approved the proposal sent by the chief minister to assign additional charge of the Services department to AK Singh, IAS AGMUT 1995," said a statement from LG's office. Hours after the top court verdict, Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had removed More and directed the appointment of Singh as the new secretary. The AAP government had sent the file on More's removal from the post to the LG on May 17 for his nod.

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

Stakeholder consultation for next phase of Delhi EV policy on May 24

The Delhi government has begun work on drafting a revised electric vehicle (EV) policy for the national capital, since the existing one will expire in August. The Delhi EV Cell of the Transport Department will hold a stakeholder consultation on May 24 for the second phase of the policy, in collaboration with Climate Trends. The consultation aims to bring together stakeholders, international sectoral experts and academicians to share achievements, learnings and experiences, and make recommendations towards the development of the next phase of the policy, according to its website. The Delhi EV policy -- introduced in August 2020 -- aims at increasing the EV share in total vehicle sales to 25 per cent by 2024. According to official data, over 1.12 lakh EVs have been sold under the policy.

Delhi govt launches 'I love Yamuna campaign' to boost participation

The Delhi government will encourage people to participate in cleaning activities of the Yamuna and increase the green cover on its banks as part of a campaign launched for the rejuvenation of the river on Wednesday. The "I love Yamuna campaign" was kicked off by Delhi Environment and Forest Minister Gopal Rai from Chhath Ghat, near ITO here. Nearly 1,500 students and teachers from Eco Clubs of different schools in Delhi registered to participate in the initiative, the minister's office said in a statement. The objective of this programme is to educate children about the significance of the Yamuna river and the issue of pollution in Delhi, the statement said. All children present during the programme actively participated in a slogan-writing competition related to the cleanliness of the river, and also pledged to keep Yamuna clean, it said. Additionally, the environment and forest department distributed medicinal plants to all those who attended the event. "Yamuna river is not jus

Delhi govt forms panel to fix routes, services for 'mohalla' bus scheme

The Delhi government has constituted an eight-member expert technical committee for deciding routes and operational characteristics of the 'mohalla' bus scheme, according to an official order issued by the transport department. The Arvind Kejriwal-led government plans to introduce 100 'mohalla' (community) buses in Delhi soon. These buses will serve narrow and crowded roads and poorly connected residential as well as commercial hubs, ensuring last-mile connectivity. The committee has been constituted by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, DTC MD Shilpa Shinde, who also holds the charge of Special Commissioner (Cluster) said in the order issued on May 16. The expert technical committee will submit its recommendations to the transport department within three weeks from the date of the constitution of the committee, the order said. "The scope of work of the expert technical committee has inter-alia included nature of Mohalla bus services, pervasive branding, route length, fare, frequen

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

Chhattisgarh money laundering case: SC pulls ED, says don't create fear

From pulling up ED in Chhattisgarh money laundering case to questioning the source of power of Delhi-LG while nominating 10 aldermen, here are the important cases of the day

HC seeks response of CBSE on plea seeking common syllabus across India

The plea also challenged provisions under the RTE Act which excludes madrasas, Vedic pathshalas and educational institutions imparting religious knowledge

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

Delhi govt issues notice to IAS officer for not complying with order

Delhi government has issued a show cause notice to IAS officer and services department secretary Ashish More for not complying with its direction to replace him with a new officer, threatening disciplinary action against him. More was removed by the Delhi government from his post on Thursday last week, hours after the Supreme Court gave the AAP dispensation control over the transfer and posting of officers in the state. No reply from More was received on the show cause notice issued to him by Services Department Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on May 13, said a Delhi government official. More was unavailable for his comments on the development related to his transfer. Bhardwaj in a memo to More had sought his reply within 24 hours, over charges against him that he refused to comply with the SC verdict and direction to transfer him. 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 resu

SC may grant 3-months extension to Sebi in Adani vs Hindenburg probe

From hearing a plea in the Adani vs Hindenburg case, to Delhi govt's decision to move the court, here are some of the important cases heard today

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

Delhi govt, not LG, has power on administration of services: Supreme Court

Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who argued the case for the petitioners, said the verdict was a slap on the antics of the BJP

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

Supreme Court rules in favour of Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi govt vs L-G case

In the Delhi government vs L-G case, the court said, Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over the administration of services except for public order, police, and land

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

Delhi govt removes services secretary More; ex-Jal Board CEO to replace him

Secretary of the Delhi government's Services Department Ashish More was removed from his post on Thursday, hours after the Supreme Court gave the AAP dispensation control over the transfer and posting of officers in the city, officials said. Former Delhi Jal Board CEO A K Singh, a 1995-batch (AGMUT cadre) IAS officer, will replace More. Earlier in the day, the apex court pronounced that the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over administration of services except for matters relating to public order, police and land. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a press conference, said there will be a major administrative reshuffle in the government, warning of action against officers who "obstructed" public work. Prior to the verdict of the court, the Services Department was under the control of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor.

L-G bound by aid and advice of council of ministers of Delhi govt: SC

The lieutenant governor is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers of National Capital Territory of Delhi in matters within the legislative scope of the national capital, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said the term administration with regard to powers of the lieutenant governor cannot be understood as the entire administration of Delhi. Delineating the boundary of powers of the LG, the bench, which also comprised Justices M R Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha, said he may act in his discretion only in two classes of matters. Firstly, where the matter deals with issues which are beyond the powers of the Legislative Assembly and where the President has delegated the powers and functions to the Lieutenant Governor in relation to such matter; and secondly, matters which by law require him to act in his discretion or where he is exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions,

Centre, Delhi government need to cooperate with each other, says SC

The Centre and the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) government share a unique federal relationship and they need to cooperate with each other to enhance the spirit of federalism and democracy, the Supreme Court said on Thursday. Observing that NCTD is not subsumed in the unit of the Union merely because it is not a State', a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said principles of federalism and democracy are interlinked and work together in synergy to secure to all citizens justice, liberty, equality and dignity and to promote fraternity among them. The people's choice of government is linked with the capability of that government to make decisions for their welfare, it said. "In the spirit of cooperative federalism, the Union of India must exercise its powers within the boundaries created by the Constitution. NCTD, having a sui generis (unique) federal model, must be allowed to function in the domain charted for it by the Constitution. "T