Don’t act upon directions by L-G in past months: Delhi govt to depts

This comes within days of the Supreme Court ruling that state government will have legislative and executive control over administrative services in National Capital Territory of Delhi except with regard to public order, police and land.

According to officials, ministers have directed their respective departments to submit details and reports about “directions issued by the L-G” directly to departments through Chief Secretary (CS). “We have received a letter from the office of the minister seeking information regarding the directions issued by the L-G without keeping the minister and the elected government in the loop. We have submitted all reports to the minister,” said a senior PWD official.

“In the last few months, L-G has issued several directions directly to various departments, through the Chief Secretary, completely bypassing the elected government…all such directions of L-G are contrary to the Constitution and orders of the Supreme Court,” said Raaj Kumar Anand, Minister of Social Welfare, Labour and SC/ST welfare, in a note addressed to the secretary of Social Welfare Department.

Alleging that provisions of Transaction of Business Rules (TBR) are not being followed, Anand said, “Most of the files are being presented to me through the CS. This is contrary to provisions of TBR. It is also clogging the office of CS. Therefore, it is directed that the Secretary shall present the file directly to the minister.”

Last year, in December, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had written to L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena alleging that certain files pertaining to important policy decisions have been directly forwarded to L-G, “sidelining” the minister in-charge.

Meanwhile, departments have also been directed that all files related to subjects mentioned in Rule 23 should be sent to the L-G through the CS and the Chief Minister. “And these files should be first presented to the minister by the secretary concerned following which the minister will give his findings… The secretaries can send files further only with approval of minister in-charge,” said a senior government official.

Alleging that the CS is “giving directions to various officers directly”, the Social Welfare minister also said: “Chief Secretary does not have any powers under TBR to give any directions directly to any officer. If any such direction is received from the CS, the same should be presented before the Minister for appropriate instructions.” Anand said, “Any violation shall be viewed adversely.”