In a decision that is likely to escalate the turf war between the Centre and the Delhi government, Home Minister Satyendar Jain has issued orders to deputy secretaries and additional secretaries to report directly to him, and not Home Secretary S N Sahai, on several crucial issues. The decision comes days after two special secretaries were suspended for allegedly refusing to sign two cabinet notes. The two officials had reportedly cited a letter from Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, asking government officials not to sign any document that does not come under their jurisdiction. Sahai had reportedly defended the two senior officials of DANICS cadre. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had declared the government’s decision to suspend the two officers non est (does not exist) and said they should be deemed to be on duty. According to the order, only files pertaining to police and public matters — reserved subjects under the central government — will be sent to Sahai. The home minister has distributed a list with 42 subjects —including prosecution, internal security, criminal law and others — among junior officials and asked them to report directly to him, not the home secretary, on these issues. The lieutenant governor, under the MHA, also claims jurisdiction on some of these issues. The list also includes magisterial inquiries and inquiry commissions. This is significant as the Delhi government and the MHA are embroiled in a tussle over whether the Commission of Inquiry probing alleged irregularities in the DDCA is constitutionally valid. “The junior officials will report issues that do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Delhi government directly to the home secretary. By doing this, the government will ensure that no file will be sent to the two special secretaries, who were suspended but were signing files till today,” said a senior official. The order stated that the additional secretary will forward files on all other subjects to the deputy secretary, who will take them directly to the minister.
