New Delhi: The political slugfest between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the central government continued Tuesday with Services Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj stating that the reinstatement of special secretary (vigilance) Y.V.V.J. Rajasekhar was illegal.
Bhardwaj, in an office memorandum dated 23 May, stated that the central government’s ordinance does not include the “allocation of work within the department” while adding that he was the “competent authority” to decide the said matter.
Rajasekhar was divested of his duties by the AAP-led administration, days after the Supreme Court’s 11 May order empowering the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi to exercise its power over the appointments and transfers of civil servants.
A 2012-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, Rajasekhar was the first official to be reinstated through the central government’s ordinance, while an official order noted that he shall resume duties “as usual”, further directing that all assistant directors (AD) will maintain the status of the workflow as it was on 10 May. The order directing that Rajasekhar will resume his duties was issued by the Office of Secretary (Vigilance), according to the order copy, and signed by additional director Biju Raj.
Rajasekhar was probing alleged irregularities in connection with the renovation of the Delhi Chief Minister’s official residence. He was also part of the probe into the now-scrapped excise policy (2021-22).
Asked about the minister’s statements in the memorandum, Rajasekhar told ThePrint Tuesday, “I have not seen any such directions. In any case, the matter is still sub judice as it was earlier. Why am I being targeted? As far as I am concerned, we are all doing our Nishikama Karma (selfless actions). Let me concentrate on my job.”
The ordinance in question, promulgated by the President late last Friday, allows the setting up of the ‘National Capital Civil Service Authority’ (NCCSA), a three-member body that will be headed by the chief minister, with two central-appointed officers — the Delhi chief secretary and principal secretary (home department) — as its members.
The NCCSA has been tasked with giving recommendations to the L-G on matters concerning transfers and vigilance, among others, based on a majority of votes from members of the committee.
In the office memorandum issued Tuesday, Bhardwaj added that Rajasekhar continues to remain divested of his duties while reiterating his previous decisions that the former’s work in the services department would be looked after by special secretary (services), Kinny Singh, and that his work in the vigilance department was to be distributed amongst assistant directors.
While Bhardwaj cited complaints against the officer for allegedly running an extortion racket, Rajasekhar is among the 10 officers, according to L-G House officials, who have alleged harassment at the hands of AAP leaders.
Rajasekhar’s office was previously sealed and he alleged that the space was searched and some records might have been tampered with.
However, Monday’s order directed that his office be de-sealed keeping in view the central government’s ordinance. Taking cognisance of the order, Rajasekhar directed two assistant directors to prepare an inventory of files.
Bhardwaj, in the memorandum, called for an enquiry into how an “unauthorised order” was issued to reinstate the said IAS officer.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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